Many believe rishis are special beings, who have access to special mantras. They understand the vibrations of the universe. They communicate these mantras through words, chants, and hymns of the Vedas. They play a very important role in Vedic literature. They can summon the gods, they can curse the gods. They can create harmony between gods and humans. This makes them very powerful. But where did they originate from?

In the later Puranas (1,500 years old), Brahma’s mind creates them. Hence, they are the Manas Putra, the mind-born sons of Brahma. Yet, in Vedic literature known as Brahmanas (2,500 years old), the origin is interesting. In one story, the gods, Mitra and Varuna, see the apsara, Urvashi, and spill their semen. The semen falls partly on the ground, partly on a pot, and partly in water. From what falls on the ground, Vashistha is born. From what falls on the pot, Agastya is born, and from what falls in the water, Matsya is born. The Vedic scripture known as Brahaddevata (2,000 years old) has similar stories. Here, the goddess Vak (speech) takes the form of a woman while the gods, Ka and Prajapati, are performing yagya. Seeing her, they spill semen. From the semen, fire and its embers are born Angiras, Bhrigu and Atreya.