Vasishta, in Hindu mythology was chief of the seven venerated sages (or Saptharishi) and the Rajaguru of the Suryavamsha or Solar Dynasty. He was the manasaputra of Brahma. He had in his possession the divine cow Kamadhenu, and Nandini her child, who could grant anything to their owners. Itihasa (Sanskrit: thus verily happened) refers collectively to the epic Hindu scriptures, detailing the actions of divine incarnations on earth while interspersing them with often large sections of philosophical and ethical discourse. ... A Rajaguru or Raja Guru is a teacher for the king. ... This article concerns the Hindu creator god, Brahma. ... Kamadhenu (SAMPA: /kam@Denu/) was a divine cow who was believed to be the mother of all Gods according to Hindu mythology. ... Nandini (The Enjoying), in Hindu Mythology was a Divine Cow that could grant wishes. ...

Arundhati is the name of the wife of Vasishta. The star M101 of the stellar constellation Ursa Major is thought of as Vasishta and the small one beside it as Arundhati. Ursa Major is a constellation visible throughout the year in the northern hemisphere. ...

Tales featuring Vashishta

Vashishta is featured in many tales and folklore, a few of which are briefly described below.

The tale of Vishwamitra

This tale tells of how Vashishta possessed a cow named Kamadhenu who could produce enough food for a whole army of troops instantly. The king Vishwamitra, who visited Vashishta's hermitage, was very impressed with the cow and tried to take it away from Vashishta by force, but Vashishta's spiritual power acquired through penance was too great for him. After being unable to conquer Vashishta, Vishwamitra decided to acquire power himself through penance. He gained much power and many divine weapons from Lord Shiva. And once again he attempted to conquer Vashishta. But even the divine weapons he acquired could not defeat the power of Vashishta's Brahmadanda. Vishwamitra finally decided to become a Brahmarishi himself, and he renounced all his possessions and luxury and led the life of a simple forest ascetic. Kamadhenu (SAMPA: /kam@Denu/) was a divine cow who was believed to be the mother of all Gods according to Hindu mythology. ... Brahmarishi Viswamitra is one of the seven venerated sages of Hindu mythology. ... A hermitage is the retreat of a hermit. ... Penance is the actual name of the Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation/ Confession. ... This article is about the Hindu God. ... Brahmarishi is the highest of the Rishis. ... The word ascetic derives from the ancient Greek term askesis (practice, training or exercise). ...

The tale of King Dileepa

King Dileepa was a king of the Raghuvamsha dynasty. He had a wife named Sudakshina, but they had no children. For this reason, Dileepa visited the sage Vashishta in his ashram, and asked him for his advice. Vashishta replied that they should serve the cow Nandini, child of Kamadhenu, and perhaps if Nandini was happy with their service, she would grant them with a child. So, according to Vashishta, Dileepa served Nandini every day, and attended to her every need for twenty-one days. On the twenty-first day, a lion attacks Nandini. Dileepa immediately draws his bow and tries to shoot the lion. But he finds that his arm is paralysed and cannot move. He reasons that the lion must have some sort of divine power. As if to confirm this, the lion started to speak to him. It said that Dileepa had no chance of saving the cow because the cow was the lion's chosen meal. The lion tells Dileepa to return to Vashishta's ashram. Dileepa replies by asking if the lion would let Nandini go if he offered himself in Nandini's place. The lion agreed and Dileepa sacrificed his life for the cow. But then the lion mysteriously disappeared. Nandini explained that the lion was just an illusion to test Dileepa. Because Dileepa was truly selfless, Nandini granted him with a son. Dileepa in Hindu mythology is said to have been one of the most righteous and chivalrous emperors that the Solar Dynasty had ever produced. ... Kalidasas Raghuvamsha tells of the family of Rama and his descendents, including the conqueror Raghu. ... Ashrams in ancient India, were Hindu hermitages where sages used to live in peace and tranquility amidst nature. ... Nandini (The Enjoying), in Hindu Mythology was a Divine Cow that could grant wishes. ... Kamadhenu (SAMPA: /kam@Denu/) was a divine cow who was believed to be the mother of all Gods according to Hindu mythology. ... Ashrams in ancient India, were Hindu hermitages where sages used to live in peace and tranquility amidst nature. ... An illusion is a distortion of a sensory perception. ...

See also

• Brahmarishi
• Vishwamitra
• Bharadwaja
• Ramayana

Brahmarishi is the highest of the Rishis. ... Brahmarishi Viswamitra is one of the seven venerated sages of Hindu mythology. ... In Hinduism, Bharadwaja was a rishi (sage)who lived three times before he died and ascended to Heaven, to a union with the Sun. ... Lord Ram, Laxman, Sita and Hanuman(crouching) The Ramayana (Sanskrit: march (ayana) of Rama) is part of the Hindu smriti, written by Valmiki (c. ...

Sources

• Mythological Tales - Vashishta (http://www.urday.com/vashishta.htm)
• Raguvamsha (http://www.freeindia.org/biographies/greatpoets/kalidas/page3.htm)