Rajarshi

Rajarishi (Devanagari: राजर्षि ; ISO: Rājarṣi ) (from Sanskrit "Rajan" a "King" + "Rishi" a "Saint" ) in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, is an enlightened person with a royal background.

Order

A Rajarshi is a king who turned into a royal sage. A Rajarshi will not have to leave the kingship to become rishi as in the example of Vishwamitra (who later advanced to becoming a Brahmarishi) but still while ruling the kingdom has reached a state of rishi and has attained self-realization. They still perform the kshatriya responsibility, and remain similar to most rishis, maharishis and brahmarishis descendants in their level of spiritual knowledge. Another example of Rajarshi is King Janaka, who is said to have attained Self-Knowledge from ascetic sage Astavakra.

Namely there are four types of Rishis mentioned in Hinduism and Vedas.

1. Rajarshi
2. Maharishi
3. Brahmarshi
4. And, Devarishi

Reference in Hinduism

In Vedas and Holy scriptures of Hindusim, the name and Rajarshi has its own meaning and it's widely being applied for few ancient historical Hindu Legends who always and still now stood as examples of sacrifices for achieving a greater cause for the humanity and the prevalent societies. There are the mention of namely two Rajarshi in Vedic History.

• Rajarshi Mudgal
• Rajarshi Vishwamitra

Rajarshi Mudgal wrote 1 Upnishad out of 108 Upnishads named Mudgalupnishad. Mudgalupnishad is unique amongst upanishads, as it mainly contains information and praise concerning Lord Ganesha, and how to pray and perform Yajna and Puja of Lord Ganpati.

The great sage strongly believed in simple living high thinking and had a high level patience amongst other Rishis. That's why still today the persons belonged to Mudgal Gotra are considered highly ethical and had infinite patience in compare to average.

Rajarshi Mudgal has also been cited for declaring to his wife that in her next birth she would have Five Husbands. And due to his words, his wife was born as Draupadi, the daughter of King Drupada in her next birth.

The great sage Vishvamitra was also called Rajarshi who later went on to become Brahmarshi.

Another famous figure named Rajarshi in somehow present era was Purusottam Das Tandon. He was the one who is regarded as the person to make Hindi the Official Language of Independent India. He was awarded Bharat Ratna (India's Highest Civilian Award) in year 1961.

Also Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur(26 June 1874 – 6 May 1922) is known as Rajarshi Shahu. During his rule in Kolhapur State from 1894 till death in 1922, he worked for lower caste, education to all, social reforms, reservation, agriculture reforms & much more.

See also

• Hindu mythology
• Hinduism
• Rajarshi Janaka
• Ramayana