[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975) › c9.502 # Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.502 Purāṇic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Purāṇic Literature c9.502 - **Language:** English ### [c9.502](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.502) India has given birth to numerous Ṛṣis. The word "Ṛṣi" may be found throughout the Vedas. Ṛṣis born in all classes of people had lived in India. The general belief is that the number of Ṛṣis may come to about 48,000. It is not possible to know the names of all of them. In the Rāmāyaṇa we find that when Śrī Rāma returned to Ayodhyā after his life in the forest and took up the reign, many Ṛṣis came to Ayodhyā from all parts of the country. Among them, Viśvāmitra, Yavakrīta, Raibhya, Kaṇva and Garga came with their party of disciples from the east; Dattātreya, Namuci, Pramuci, Vālmīki, Soma, Kuṇḍu and Agastya came with their disciples from the south; Vṛṣaṅgu, Kaviṣa, Kaumya, Raudreya, Nārada, Vāmadeva, Saubhari, Aṣṭāvakra, Śuka, Bhṛgu, Lomaśa, Maudgalya and others with their disciples came from the west and Kaśyapa, Vasiṣṭha, Atri, Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadvāja, Sanaka and party, Śarabhaṅga, Durvāsas, Mātaṅga, Vibhāṇḍaka, Tumburu, the Saptarṣis and others with their party of disciples arrived from the north, according to Uttara Rāmāyaṇa. There are three classes of Ṛṣis—Brahmarṣi, Rājarṣi and Devarṣi. Vasiṣṭha was a Brahmarṣi, Viśvāmitra, a Rājarṣi and Kaśyapa, a Devarṣi. - [Previous: c9.501](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.501) - [Next: c9.503](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.503) - [Up: c9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.502](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.mani-1975.c9.502) · Pramāṇa