Elements of Hindu Iconography v4.c35.s2.37

v4.c35.s2.37

Jñāna or opinion is of two kinds, *vidyā* (true) and *avidyā* (false); the former of these arises from perception, inference and recollection and the infallible intuition peculiar to the *rishis*. The *rishis* possessed an intuition which was peculiarly their own and was shared slightly by the ordinary mortals. We learn that the *rishis* who lived of old and who conversed about sacred truths with the gods directly, led a conjugal life; whenever they wanted anything they approached straight the gods with metrical composition in praise of these gods; thus supernatural powers came to be attributed to these sages. The *rishis* seem also to be divided into the ancient and the modern, the former being Bhṛigu, Āṅgiras and others. It is worth noting that the *rishis* were called also *kavis* (poets) *mēdhāvins* (wise men), *vipra* (learned men) *vipaśchit*, *vēdhas*, (words meaning also the learned men), *muni* (the thoughtful), etc.