[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Vedic Index of Names and Subjects](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912) › v1.c3.s6.118 # Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s6.118 Vedic Index of Names and Subjects v1.c3.s6.118 - **Language:** English ### [v1.c3.s6.118](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.118) In the later literature the Rṣis are the poets of the hymns preserved in the Saṃhitās, a Rṣi being regularly¹⁶ cited when a Vedic Saṃhitā is quoted. Moreover, the Rṣis become the representatives of a sacred past, and are regarded as holy sages, whose deeds are narrated as if they were the deeds of gods or Asuras.¹⁷ They are typified by a particular group of seven,¹⁸ mentioned four times in the Rigveda,¹⁹ several times in the later Saṃhitās,²⁰ and enumerated in the Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad²¹ as Gotama, Bharadvāja, Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Vasiṣṭha, Kaśyapa, and Atri. In the Rigveda itself Kutsa,²² Atri,²³ Rebha,²⁴ Agastya,²⁵ the Kuśikas,²⁶ Vasiṣṭha,²⁷ Vyaśva,²⁸ and others appear as Rṣis; and the Atharvaveda²⁹ contains a long list, including Aṅgiras, Agasti, Jamadagni, Atri, Kaśyapa, Vasiṣṭha, Bharadvāja, Gaviṣṭhira, Viśvāmitra, Kutsa, Kakṣīvant, Kaṇva, Medhātithi, Triśoka, Uśanā Kāvya, Gotama, and Mudgala. - [Previous: v1.c3.s6.117](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.117) - [Next: v1.c3.s6.119](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.119) - [Up: v1.c3.s6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.118](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.macdonell-keith-1912.v1.c3.s6.118) · Pramāṇa