rishi
Hindu spiritual master
A rishi is a sage or seer in Hindu tradition—one of the ancient poets and seers to whom the Vedic hymns were revealed.
The term carries connotations of spiritual wisdom and ascetic practice.
In contemporary usage, rishi sometimes appears as a general term for a wise teacher or spiritual guide in South Asian contexts.
The rishis composed the sacred texts in deep meditation. (Capitalized Rishi is a given name.)
Revered authority figure
- swamiHindu religious teacher
- sadhuHindu holy ascetic
- yogiDevoted meditation practitioner
- panditHindu learned man
enlightened · holy · venerable · revered · blessing · devotion · moksha · liberation
Hindu canonical texts
- UpanishadsVedic philosophical scriptures
- SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
- mantraRepeated focus phrase
- hymnReligious song of praise
revelation · shruti · oral tradition · chanting · sacrifice
One who renounces indulgence
- hermitPerson choosing total seclusion
- tapasSpanish appetizer assortment
- meditationFocused attention practice
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
forest · ashram · renunciation · austerity · celibacy · contemplation · solitude · retreat
Buddhism's historical founder
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- constellationNamed pattern of celestial bodies
- Ursa MajorNorthern bear constellation
- Big DipperSeven-star northern asterism
progenitor · clan · patriarchs
Sanskrit heroic verse narrative
- MahabharataSanskrit war epic
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- authorCreator of written works
- compilerSource-to-machine-code translator
Understood facts and skills
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- scriptureSacred religious writings
- philosophyStudy of fundamental truths
truth · discernment · guidance · counsel · oral transmission · disciple · lineage · tradition
Foretelling of future events
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- visionAbility to see
- clairvoyanceExtrasensory perception ability
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
intuition · mystical · supernatural · inspiration · channeling · transmission
guru
Revered authority figure
pandit · enlightened · holy · venerable · revered · blessing · devotion · moksha · liberation · dharma
Vedas
Hindu canonical texts
- UpanishadsVedic philosophical scriptures
- SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
- mantraRepeated focus phrase
hymn · revelation · shruti · oral tradition · chanting · sacrifice
ascetic
One who renounces indulgence
- hermitPerson choosing total seclusion
- tapasSpanish appetizer assortment
- meditationFocused attention practice
penance · forest · ashram · renunciation · austerity · celibacy · contemplation · solitude · retreat · wilderness
Gautama
Buddhism's historical founder
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- constellationNamed pattern of celestial bodies
- Ursa MajorNorthern bear constellation
Big Dipper · progenitor · clan · patriarchs
Ramayana
Sanskrit heroic verse narrative
- MahabharataSanskrit war epic
- epicImpressively grand in scope
- authorCreator of written works
knowledge
Understood facts and skills
- insightDeep perceptive understanding
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- scriptureSacred religious writings
philosophy · truth · discernment · guidance · counsel · oral transmission · disciple · lineage · tradition · sutras
prophecy
Foretelling of future events
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
- visionAbility to see
- clairvoyanceExtrasensory perception ability
oracle · intuition · mystical · supernatural · inspiration · channeling · transmission
rishifool
Unwise, gullible person
ignoramus · worldling · materialist · philistine · uninitiated
rishimaterialist
Values physical over spiritual
hedonist · sensualist · worldling · pleasure-seeker · sybarite