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Why are there no Rishi in the present time?

Is it because most people have some level of knowledge (from previous Rishi or other scientific discovery) that they think is sufficient for the life to continue?

Or is it because people are self-centered and not interested to become Rishi/Sage?

Keshav Srinivasan
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Barun
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  • What is your definition of a Rishi? – Aby Sep 23 '15 at 18:18
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    There are plenty of Rishis in the modern age. They are called saints. They are every full of bliss and provide their wisdom to all and take upon themselves the sins of the world. All the best – Sai Sep 23 '15 at 18:32
  • @Aby For me, Rishis are those who:
    1. tries to understand the world completely (in minute level)
    2. free their mind from any aspect of the world like suffering, lust, duty, pride, desire etc.
    3. fill their mind with pure knowledge with no preference to some aspect of knowledge
    4. gain wisedom to make the world more glorious and prosperous by sharing and applying the knowledge he has attained
     – Barun Sep 24 '15 at 07:00
  • @Sai can you mention some name of those Rishi? – Barun Sep 24 '15 at 07:02
  • Who said that there aren't Rishis in the modern world. According to me a Rishi is a person who has attained self-realization. Well, you can find a lot of people who are referred to as saints or sadhu's. Their souls are pure and thus it has reached another level of consciousness. Thus, you will still continue to find Rishis in the modern world. – Abhishekstudent Sep 24 '15 at 17:01
  • @Barun There are plenty of rishis. Some choose to declare publicly, some prefer to keep it secret. Some examples are Ramana Maharishi and Ramakrishna Paramhansa :). All the best – Sai Sep 24 '15 at 21:45
  • Jagadguru Shankaracharyas of Sringeri are glaring examples of brahma rishis in modern times. –  Sep 25 '15 at 02:42
  • But despite the presence of these sage/saints in various places, why are they not renowned as much as the ancient Rishis (SaptaRishi and those before and after them)?
    Is it because they do not have the caliber to the level of ancient Rishis?     – Barun Sep 25 '15 at 06:49
  • @Barun: There are Rishis in the current age too...I know a few, Rishi Nityapragya, Rishi Devavrat, Rishi Vidhyadhar etc...some of them might be accessible via Twitter too.. – Amit Saxena May 05 '16 at 05:13
  • Rishi exist always. When you have ridden the euphoric wave of nirvana long enough to hear the wills of the most high you are a Rishi –  Aug 24 '16 at 18:13
  • usually the civil society don't always respect present. when the person goes, people later realise the REAL value of that person. In Maharashtra, India Saint Gyaneshwar is one of the most famous/well known saint NOW, but if you read his life history, the society during his time have him lot of hardship due to his father's decision. You can read about Saint Gyaneshwar at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dnyaneshwar So who Know, there may be saint present right NOW, but we as society not identifying them as saint/rishi. – AADHinduism Aug 27 '16 at 05:10
  • Maharshi Dayananda, Ramana Maharshi, Rishi Aurobinda - the rishis of the modern age. There may be more. They are called rishis for a reason. – Amritendu Mukhopadhyay Dec 05 '23 at 16:03

2 Answers2

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The reason Rishis aren't born in the Kali Yuga is due to transgression of Brahmacharya, as described in this chapter of the Apastamba Dharma Sutras:

  1. The word 'austerity' (must be understood to apply) to (the observance of) the rules (of studentship).

  2. If they are transgressed, study drives out the knowledge of the Veda acquired already, from the (offender) and from his children.

  3. Besides he will go to hell, and his life will be shortened.

  4. On account of that (transgression of the rules of studentship) no Rishis are born amongst the men of later ages.

  5. But some in their new birth, on account of a residue of the merit acquired by their actions (in former lives), become (similar to) Rishis by their knowledge (of the Veda),

  6. Like Svetaketu.

Here is what Haradatta says in his commentary on these Sutras:

Amongst the avaras means "amongst the men of modern times, those who live in the Kaliyuga." No Rishis are born means "there are none who see (receive the revelation of) Mantras, Vedic texts." ...

How is it then that men in our days, though they transgress the rules prescribed for students, learn the four Vedas with little trouble? (The answer is), By virtue of a residue of the reward (due) for the proper observance of those rules (of studentship) in a former Yuga. Therefore Âpastamba says, Sûtra 6 "But some," &c. New existence means "new birth (life)." ...

Like Svetaketu. For Svetaketu learned the four Vedas in a short time; as we read in the Khândogya Upanishad (Prapâthaka VI, 1).

I discuss the Apastamba Dharma Sutras' statement about Shwetaketu in my question here.

Community
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Keshav Srinivasan
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  • In fact, there is no Kaliyuga, it is a puranic abstract to describe certain concepts of Puranas, and it doesn't exist in Vedanta. When talking about the present time - it isn't a very good idea to reference Puranas. I'd rather argue that there are many, depending upon the definitions. – User 29449 Oct 22 '23 at 13:15
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There are a lot of saints in present time.

You might have heard of Mahavatar Babaji, the guru of Lahiri Mahasaya who was the guru of Sri Yukteswar Giri who in turn was the guru of Paramahamsa Yogananda.

                                              enter image description here

He is believed to be born 2500 years ago and is alive till date. Of course, there are many more saints who are at this moment present on earth, most of them are in Himalayas.

Pinakin
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