Rishi Panchami: Celebrating the Guiding Lights of Hindu Dharma

For thousands of years, our faith has persevered through the darkest of time and the most brutal of oppressions. We were colonized and brutalized, and forced into slavery at the hands of an unspeakable evil. But our faith prevailed. There are two sides to that victory, reflected in one of the most important words of our faith: the shastras. On one hand, it refers to our temporal power, the ability of our bravehearts to face down evil. On the other, it refers to our spiritual power, the continuity of generations that began when our revered ancestors, sages and saints found the Divine and wrote down the words of our Ishwar for generations to come. 

This is the spirit of Rishi Panchami. It is a day to honor the progenitors of our faith for their sacrifices in ensuring the continuity of dharma. For millennia, the rishis and sadhus have helped establish our faith, bringing it to the forefront of its time. They are the masters of the spiritual realm, conquerors of the mind who bring timeless knowledge of infinite renown and glory into the world. 

They are the brains of our faith, the intellect that helps guide Hinduism forward. From the venerated Saptarishis of yore to modern-day saints like Sant Tukaram, Mirabai, and Swami Vivekananda, we are reminded of the lofty ideals of our faith through their sacrifices and their actions that place them at the forefront of progress and development. Their lessons are espoused in every corner of the world by those who are Hindu and even those who are not. 

That, to me, is the beauty of our faith; that men and women from a range of backgrounds can come together, in their own unique ways, to add onto the collage that is the Hindu faith. Our faith honors diversity, whether it be in thought or background. This is reflected in the teachings of our rishis who speak of unity and the oneness of the world. Even the Rig Veda states, “That God is One, but the Wise call Him by many Names.”  That beauty which brings together people from all walks of life, which makes holy even the lowest of mankind, is divine. 

Today, however, that spirit of unity and brotherhood that so defines our faith has been abused and is under attack. The work of countless rishis is being threatened by a deluge of hatred and division. At this time, as the world watches in silence, we must rise up to protect the values and ideals important to us. 

We must embody the qualities of Matsya, the fish that saved the original Saptarishis from destruction during the Great Flood. However, we cannot be Matsyas or defenders of dharma without being rooted in our faith. Often, we are focused on defending our faith without truly understanding its richness and beauty. The reason we have survived persecution over generations is because of the resilience of our faith, the beliefs that inspire men and women to risk their lives and stand on the frontline to ensure that the next generation can see the beauty of Hinduism. That is the spirit of our rishis who, rooted in an understanding of our faith, help spread its beauty across the world. 

On this Rishi Panchami, look into yourselves as the rishis once did. Look into the scriptures they wrote and interpreted, and immerse yourself in their values and their holy message. Focus on the positives of our faith and its greatness which has inspired generations of warriors and leaders, scientists and entrepreneurs alike. Without the works of our rishis, without their guidance, our faith would’ve been lost. Honor them this Rishi Panchami by learning what they worked so hard to reveal to us laypeople. 

The author, Sagar Patel, is a high school student and a CoHNA youth volunteer.