Scientists and the Rishis - Puranas

Long back, my grandfather told me that the rishis/ sage /hermit of the bygone days are the scientists that we see today. Now I can connect that my grandfather was referring, probably with my little understanding capacity, was not getting him. However, now I can understand the philosophy of the story that he was referring to, rishi/sage/hermit Dadhichi who gave up his body so that his bones could be used to make the Vajra weapon for Indra - King of the Gods. You must be still feeling a little difficult to connect these two identities, no problem!! It's not the problem of your understanding, however, you have been programmed and made to believe by the modern media to think the rishis/ sage /hermit had a dress code: white or orange or robes, long beards, with a stick or tongs or trishula (a trident). Basically something like a Gandalf staff. Our knowledge of the rishis/ sage /hermit comes from Vedas, which was composed 4,000 years ago, and Puranas, which were composed over a thousand years ago.

A question may still arise in your mind who was the rishis/ sage /hermit? Were they having any resemblances to scientists or wizards or witches or seers?

The science that we talk about these days is the product of discourse that is only 500 years old. Very often many of us pontificate about science with religion. There are many scientists who have no problem with keeping an image of Ganesha or Saraswati in their laboratories or their workplace. The “Science” that we talk about these days is more about facts, figures, and data. However, “Religion” is more about the truth and experience. Objectively two are not the same. In a simple definition, Science is based on measurement, and religion is based on experiences. These two are different ways of approaching reality, neither is superior or inferior to each other And there shouldn’t be any kings of ambiguity about it. Let me clarify my statement with an example; when somebody questions whether yoga is scientific, it must be clarified that yoga is popular for the sublime ‘experience’ if offered, not because it is based on ‘measurable provable facts’. The experience does not care for the measurements and on the other side measurement does not indicate experiences.

The word rishis (sage /hermit) is a queerer. However, some etymologists have rooted it with the word ‘Drishti’ or seeing or observing. The rishis were thus seers or observers: those who saw more than others could see or observe. In the Vedas, they are often referred to as “Kavi” or poets, those who questioned and wondered. The sound “ka” refers to interrogation or questioning or making a query and so interrogative pronouns in Sanskrit, such as what and why are derived from this sound. “Ka'' is also the name by which the divine is addressed in the Vedas. They were absolutely interested in mimansa (inquiry), who ‘heard’ the chants that we know as Vedic mantras in the present day. Is that some sort of metaphor for inspiration? Or is it humility of scholars who never attributed the discovery to themselves and never took the credit of their hard work and efforts? Or is it some indicative of a mystical experience, or maybe an extraterrestrial one, or were they aliens as some would like to believe or relate?

Due to the interposition of modern media, we are more used to seeing the rishis/ sage /hermit as male in gender. Probably the question which is arising in your mind is did the rishis/ sage /hermit include women? Let me ask you something so that you can think - when was the last time you saw a visualization of the Sapta Rishis, the seven sages of lore, including a single woman?

The photographs of Indian scientists, like the ones who were involved in the Mars mission, included quite a few women. And quite a few women were dressed in sarees and had put flowers in their hair. They were very comfortable in their femininity, just like many women in the corporate world do – especially those at the junior level does – who feel that the only way to show that they are serious about their work is by downplaying their femininity. We can point to women who composed Vedic hymns, like Lopamudra, and address them as the rishis/ sage /hermit, however, that is more like a face-saving argument, rather than indicative of the trend.

In the Puranas, the rishis/ sage /hermit plays are an important role of a narrative device as their curses and boons give rise to twists in the situation, on the basis of which the plot of myths are created, which we read in the pages of Hindu scriptures. Durvasa cursed Indra to lose his wealth and splendor, while he gave Kunti the boon to call any deva at her own discretion and have progeny by them. Many of the rishis/ sage /hermits are married: Gautama got married to Ahalya, Vashistha got married to Arundhati, Atri got married to Anasuya, and Agastya got married with Lopamudra. In fact, when they try to remain celibate, Indra sends apsaras to seduce them. The holding of semen gave men supernatural powers which are known as “siddhi”, a popular theme in stories of the medieval Nath-yogis, which is why today celibacy is advocated and ascribed value by our scientific gurus.

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