Rajarshi (Sanskrit: राजर्षि, romanizedRājarṣi, lit.'king-sage') is a title in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, referring to a sage who hails from a royal background.[1]

Description

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A rajarshi may be described to be a king (raja) who adopted a path of devotion, thereby becoming a royal sage (rishi). A rajarshi does not have to leave the kingship to become rishi, as in the example of Vishvamitra (who later becomes a Brahmarishi), but could attain the status of a sage through self-realisation during his reign. A rajarshi still performs the duties of their kshatriya class, and remain similar to most rishis, maharishis, and brahmarishis descendants in their level of spiritual knowledge.[2] Another example of Rajarshi is King Janaka, who is said to have attained self-Knowledge from the ascetic sage Astavakra.

They belong to the four types of rishis mentioned in Hinduism and Vedas.

  1. Rajarshi
  2. Maharishi
  3. Brahmarshi
  4. Devarishi

Literature

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In the Ramayana, Brahma proclaims Vishvamitra to be a rajarshi in response to the sage performing austerities for a thousand years.[3]

References

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  1. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (19 October 2017). "Rajarishi, Rājaṛṣi, Rajarshi: 15 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Viśwamitra".
  3. ^ Debroy, Bibek (25 October 2017). The Valmiki Ramayana: Vol. 1. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. p. 144. ISBN 978-93-87326-26-2.

See also

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