rishi

English

noun
Definitions
  • A Vedic poet and seer who composed Rigvedic hymns, who alone or with others invokes the deities with poetry of a sacred character.
  • (post-Vedic) A Hindu sage or saint occupying the same position in India history as the patriarchs of other countries, constituting a peculiar class of beings in the early mythical system, as distinct from Asuras, Devas and mortal men.

Etymology

Derived from Sanskrit ऋषि (singer of sacred hymns, sage) derived from Proto-Indo-Iranian *r̥šíš.

Origin

Proto-Indo-Iranian

*r̥šíš

Gloss

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms