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{{short description|Ancient Hindu sage}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox religious biography
| image = Vasishtha.jpg
| caption =
| spouse = [[Arundhati (Hinduism)|Arundhati]]
| children = * [[Śakti Maharṣi|Shakti]], Citraketu, Surocis, Virajas, Mitra, Ulbana, Vasubhrdyana and Dyumat (from Arundhati)<ref>Motilal Bansaridas Publishers Bhagavat Purana Book 2, Skandha IV Page: 426</ref>
* Asmaka ([[Niyoga]] child for [[Kalmashapada]])-Founded [[Asmaka]] Janapada<ref>Pratap Chandra Roy's Mahabharata Adi Parva Page: 409</ref>
| title = [[Saptarshi]]
| religion = [[Hinduism]]
| parents = [[Bramha]] or [[Mitra]]-[[Varuna]] and [[Urvashi]]
}}

'''Vasishtha''' ({{lang-sa|वसिष्ठ}}, [[IAST]]: ''{{transl|sa|Vasiṣṭha}}'') is one of the oldest and most revered Vedic rishis or sages,<ref>{{cite book|author=James G. Lochtefeld|title=The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism: N-Z |url=https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch |url-access=registration |year=2002|publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-8239-3180-4|page=[https://archive.org/details/illustratedencyc0000loch/page/742 742]}}</ref><ref name="dhavamony50">{{cite book|author=Mariasusai Dhavamony|title=Hindu Spirituality|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=58UZWWzqglMC&pg=PA50|year=1999 |publisher=Gregorian| isbn=978-88-7652-818-7| pages=50 with footnote 63}}</ref> and one of the [[Saptarishi]]s (seven great [[Rishis]]). Vashistha is credited as the chief author of [[Mandala 7]] of the ''[[Rigveda]]''.<ref name="jamisonvash1681">{{cite book|author1=Stephanie Jamison|author2=Joel Brereton|title=The Rigveda: 3-Volume Set |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fgzVAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA1681|year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-972078-1|pages=1681–1684}}</ref> Vashishtha and his family are mentioned in Rigvedic verse 10.167.4,{{refn|group=note|Kasyapa is mentioned in RV 9.114.2, Atri in RV 5.78.4, Bharadvaja in RV 6.25.9, Vishvamitra in RV 10.167.4, Gautama in RV 1.78.1, Jamadagni in RV 3.62.18, etc.;<ref>{{cite book|author= Gudrun Bühnemann|author-link=Gudrun Bühnemann |title=Pūjā: A Study in Smārta Ritual|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=44bXAAAAMAAJ| year=1988| publisher=Brill Academic|isbn=978-3-900271-18-3|page=220}}</ref> Original Sanskrit text: प्रसूतो भक्षमकरं चरावपि स्तोमं चेमं प्रथमः सूरिरुन्मृजे । सुते सातेन यद्यागमं वां प्रति '''विश्वामित्र'''जमदग्नी दमे ॥४॥<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेद:_सूक्तं_१०.१६७ Rigveda 10.167.4], Wikisource</ref>}} other Rigvedic mandalas and in many Vedic texts.<ref>"according to Rig Veda 7.33:11 he is the son of Maitravarun and Urvashi" Prof. Shrikant Prasoon, Pustak Mahal, 2009, {{ISBN|8122310729}}, {{ISBN|9788122310726}}. [https://books.google.com/books?id=bHIpvQDlazAC&lpg=PA109]</ref><ref>{{citation|title=Rigveda|translator=Ralph T.H. Griffith|quote=A form of lustre springing from the lightning wast thou, when Varuṇa and Mitra saw thee; Tliy one and only birth was then, Vashiṣṭha, when from thy stock [[Agastya]] brought thee hither. Born of their love for Urvasi, Vashiṣṭha thou, priest, art son of Varuṇa and Mitra; And as a fallen drop, in heavenly fervour, all the Gods laid thee on a lotus-blossom |url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv07033.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Maurice Bloomfield|title=Atharvaveda |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.180555 |year=1899 |publisher=K.J. Trübner|pages=[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.180555/page/n35 31], 111, 126}}</ref> His ideas have been influential and he was called the first sage of the [[Vedanta]] school of Hindu philosophy by [[Adi Shankara]].{{sfn|Chapple|1984|page=xi}}

The ''[[Yoga Vasistha|Yoga Vasishtha]]'', ''Vasishtha Samhita'', as well as some versions of the ''[[Agni Purana]]''<ref name="wilsonxxxvi">{{cite book|author=Horace Hayman Wilson|title=The Vishńu Puráńa: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=satCAAAAcAAJ|year=1840 |publisher=Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland|page=xxxvi}}</ref> and ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' are attributed to him. He is the subject of many stories, such as him being in possession of the divine cow [[Kamadhenu]] and Nandini her child, who could grant anything to their owners. He is famous in Hindu stories for his legendary conflicts with sage [[Vishvamitra]].<ref name="dhavamony50" /><ref>{{cite book|author=Horace Hayman Wilson|title=The Vishńu Puráńa: A System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=satCAAAAcAAJ |year=1840 |publisher=Oriental Translation Fund of Great Britain and Ireland|page=lxix}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Adheesh A. Sathaye|title=Crossing the Lines of Caste: Vishvamitra and the Construction of Brahmin Power in Hindu Mythology |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rrm6BwAAQBAJ&pg=PA254 |year=2015|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-934111-5|pages=254–255}}</ref> In the [[Ramayana]], he was the family priest of the [[Raghu dynasty]] and teacher of [[Rama]] and his brothers.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-18|title=Rishi Vasistha - One of the Mind-born Sons of Lord Brahma|url=https://vedicfeed.com/rishi-vasistha/|access-date=2021-12-03|website=vedicfeed.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Vasishtha is also spelled as ''{{transl|sa|Vasiṣṭha}}'' and is Sanskrit for "most excellent", "best" or "richest". According to Monier-Williams, it is sometimes alternatively spelt as Vashishta or Vashisht (''{{transl|sa|vaśiṣṭha}}'', {{lang|sa|वशिष्ठ}}).<ref>{{MWSD|vaśiṣṭha}}, [http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia/ebooks/mw/0900/mw__0963.html Archive 2]</ref>

==History ==
Historically, Vasishtha was a Rigvedic poet and the [[purohita]] of [[Sudas|Sudās Paijavana]], chief of the [[Bharatas (tribe)|Bharata tribe]]. In Rigvedic hymn 7.33.9, Vashishtha is described as a scholar who moved across the [[Saraswati river]] to establish his school.<ref>{{cite book|author=Michael Witzel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SXHXAAAAMAAJ|title=Inside the Texts, Beyond the Texts: New Approaches to the Study of the Vedas: Proceedings of the International Vedic Workshop, Harvard University, June 1989|publisher=Harvard University Press|year=1997|isbn=978-1-888789-03-4|pages=289 with footnote 145}}</ref> At some point, he replaced [[Vishvamitra|Viśvāmitra Gāthina]] as the purohita of Sudās. In later Hindu texts, Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha have a long-standing feud, and scholars have stated they historically had a feud regarding the position of the Bharata purohita. However, this view has been criticized due to lack of internal evidence and the projection of later views onto the Rigveda.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Witzel|first=Michael|title=The Indo-Aryans of Ancient South Asia: Language, Material Culture and Ethnicity|publisher=De Gruyter|year=1995|editor-last=Erdosy|editor-first=George|pages=248–249, 251|chapter=Ṛgvedic history: poets, chieftains and polities}}</ref>{{Sfn|Jamison|Brereton|2014|p=1015-1016}} Under Sudās and Vasiṣṭha, the Tṛtsu-Bharatas won the [[Battle of the Ten Kings]].<ref name=":02">{{Cite book|last=Witzel|first=Michael|url=|title=The Indo-Aryans of Ancient South Asia: Language, Material Culture and Ethnicity|publisher=De Gruyter|year=1995|isbn=978-3-11-081643-3|editor-last=Erdosy|editor-first=George|series=Indian Philology and South Asian Studies|location=|pages=85–125|language=en|chapter=4. Early Indian history: Linguistic and textual parametres|doi=10.1515/9783110816433-009|s2cid=238465491 |chapter-url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110816433-009/html}}</ref> Sudās decisively won against a [[Puru (Vedic tribe)|Puru]]-led alliance by the strategic breaching of a (natural) dyke on the Ravi river thereby drowning most of the opponents; the victory is attributed to the benevolence and strategizing of [[Indra]], the patron-God of Bharatas, whose blessings were secured by Vasistha's poetics.<ref name=":023">{{Cite book|last=Witzel|first=Michael|url=|title=The Indo-Aryans of Ancient South Asia: Language, Material Culture and Ethnicity|publisher=De Gruyter|year=1995|isbn=978-3-11-081643-3|editor-last=Erdosy|editor-first=George|series=Indian Philology and South Asian Studies|location=|pages=85–125|language=en|chapter=4. Early Indian history: Linguistic and textual parametres|doi=10.1515/9783110816433-009|s2cid=238465491 |chapter-url=https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110816433-009/html}}</ref><ref name=":32">{{Cite book|title=The Rigveda: The Earliest Religious Poetry of India|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2014|isbn=9780199370184|editor-last=Brereton|editor-first=Joel P.|volume=I|pages=880, 902-905, 923-925, 1015-1016|editor-last2=Jamison|editor-first2=Stephanie W.}}</ref>

He was married to Arundhati, and therefore he was also called ''Arundhati Natha'', meaning the husband of Arundhati.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|last=Gopal|first=Madan|date= 1990| page= 70 |editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> Later, this region is believed in the Indian tradition to be the abode of sage [[Vyasa]] along with [[Pandavas]], the five brothers of [[Mahabharata]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Master's Narrative: Swami Sivananda and the Transnational Production of Yoga|jstor= 3814692|publisher=Indiana University Press|volume=23|last=Strauss|first=Sarah|journal=Journal of Folklore Research|date=2002|issue= 2/3|page=221}}</ref> He is typically described in ancient and medieval Hindu texts as a sage with long flowing hairs that are neatly tied into a bun that is coiled with a tuft to the right, a beard, a handlebar moustache and a [[tilak]] on his forehead.<ref name="Bryant2003p164">{{cite book|author=Edwin Bryant|title=The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture: The Indo-Aryan Migration Debate |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2jfHlinW4UC&pg=PA164 |year=2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-516947-8|page=164}}</ref>

[[File:Vashistar1.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|A Vashishtha statue in granite stone.]]In Buddhist Pali canonical texts such as ''[[Digha Nikaya]]'', Tevijja Sutta describes a discussion between the Buddha and Vedic scholars of his time. The [[Buddha]] names ten [[rishi]]s, calls them "early sages" and makers of ancient verses that have been collected and chanted in his era, and among those ten rishi is Vasettha (the Pali spelling of Vashishtha in Sanskrit<ref>{{cite book|author=Steven Collins|title=Aggañña Sutta |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bSI4VBQ7Y4UC&pg=PA17|year=2001|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1298-5|page=17}}</ref>).<ref name="walshe188f">{{cite book|author=Maurice Walshe|title=The Long Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Digha Nikaya |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uj86AwAAQBAJ |year=2005|publisher=Simon and Schuster|isbn=978-0-86171-979-2|pages=188–189}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|The Buddha names the following as "early sages" of Vedic verses, "Atthaka (either Ashtavakra or Atri), Vamaka, Vamadeva, Vessamitta (Visvamitra), Yamataggi, Angirasa, Bharadvaja, Vasettha (Vashistha), Kassapa (Kashyapa) and Bhagu (Bhrigu)".<ref name=walshe188f/>}}

===Ideas===
Vashishtha is the author of the seventh book of the ''[[Rigveda]]'',<ref name="jamisonvash1681" /> one of its "family books" and among the oldest layer of hymns in the Vedic scriptures of Hinduism.<ref name="Witzel1997p42" /> The hymns composed by Vashishtha are dedicated to [[Agni]], [[Indra]] and other gods, but according to RN Dandekar, in a book edited by Anay Kumar Gupta, these hymns are particularly significant for four Indravarunau hymns. These have an embedded message of transcending "all thoughts of [[bigotry]]", suggesting a realistic approach of mutual "coordination and harmony" between two rival religious ideas by abandoning disputed ideas from each and finding the complementary spiritual core in both.<ref name="Witzel1997p42">{{cite book|author=Michael Witzel|title=Inside the Texts, Beyond the Texts: New Approaches to the Study of the Vedas: Proceedings of the International Vedic Workshop, Harvard University, June 1989 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SXHXAAAAMAAJ|year=1997| publisher=Harvard University Press| isbn=978-1-888789-03-4| pages=41–42|oclc= 246746415}}</ref> These hymns declare two gods, [[Indra]] and [[Varuna]], as equally great. In another hymn, particularly the Rigvedic verse 7.83.9, Vashishtha teaches that the Vedic gods Indra and Varuna are complementary and equally important because one vanquishes the evil by the defeat of enemies in battles, while other sustains the good during peace through socio-ethical laws.<ref>{{cite book|author1=J. C. Heesterman|author2=Albert W. Van den Hoek|author3=Dirk H. A. Kolff |author3-link=Dirk H. A. Kolff |display-authors=etal |title=Ritual, State, and History in South Asia: Essays in Honour of J.C. Heesterman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EtwtSZwyWpgC&pg=PA68|year=1992|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=90-04-09467-9|pages=68–73 with footnotes}}</ref> The seventh mandala of the ''Rigveda'' by Vashishtha is a metaphorical treatise.<ref>{{cite book|author1=J. C. Heesterman|author2=Albert W. Van den Hoek|author3=Dirk H. A. Kolff |display-authors=etal|title=Ritual, State, and History in South Asia: Essays in Honour of J.C. Heesterman|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EtwtSZwyWpgC |year=1992|publisher=BRILL Academic|isbn=90-04-09467-9|pages=136–137 }}</ref> Vashishtha reappears as a character in Hindu texts, through its history, that explore conciliation between conflicting or opposing ideologies.<ref>[[Ramchandra Narayan Dandekar]] (1981), "Vasistha as Religious Conciliator", in ''Exercises in Indology'', Delhi: Ajanta, pages 122-132, {{oclc| 9098360}}</ref>

According to Ellison Findly – a professor of Religion, Vashishtha hymns in the ''Rigveda'' are among the most intriguing in many ways and influential. Vashishtha emphasizes means to be as important as ends during one's life, encouraging truthfulness, devotion, optimism, family life, sharing one's prosperity with other members of society, among other cultural values.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Findly | first=Ellison Banks | title=Vasistha: Religious Personality and Vedic Culture | journal=Numen | publisher=BRILL Academic | volume=31 | issue=1 | year=1984 | pages=74–77, 98–105 | doi=10.2307/3269890 | jstor= 3269890 }}</ref>

==Attributed texts==
{{Quote box
| quote = '''Excellence'''
<poem>
Practise righteousness ([[dharma]]), not unrighteousness.
Speak the truth, not an untruth.
Look at what is distant, not what's near at hand.
Look at the highest, not at what's less than highest.
</poem>
| source = — ''Vashishtha Dharmasutra 30.1'' {{sfn|Olivelle|1999|p=325}}
| bgcolor = #FFE0BB
| align = right
}}
Vashishtha is a revered sage in the Hindu traditions, and like other revered sages, numerous treatises composed in ancient and medieval era are reverentially named after him.{{Sfn|Olivelle|1999|p=xxvi}} Some treatises named after him or attributed to him include:
* The ''Vashishtha samhita'' is a medieval era [[Yoga]] text.<ref>{{cite book|title=Vaśiṣṭha Saṃhitā: Yoga kāṇḍa|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JiuePAAACAAJ|year=2005|publisher=Kaivalyadhama S.M.Y.M. samiti|isbn=978-81-89485-37-5}}</ref> There is an [[Agama (Hinduism)|Agama]] as well with the same title.
* The ''Vashishtha [[dharmasutra]]'', an ancient text, and one of the few [[Dharma]]-related treatises which has survived into the modern era. This Dharmasūtra (300–100 BCE) forms an independent text and other parts of the Kalpasūtra, that is Shrauta- and Grihya-sutras are missing.{{Sfn|Lingat|1973|p=18}} It contains 1,038 sutras.{{Sfn|Olivelle|2006|page=185}}
* The ''[[Yoga Vasistha|Yoga Vashishtha]]'' is a syncretic medieval era text that presents [[Vedanta]] and [[Yoga]] philosophies. It is written in the form of a dialogue between Vashishtha and prince Rama of ''[[Ramayana]]'' fame, about the nature of life, human suffering, choices as the nature of life, free will, human creative power and spiritual liberation.{{sfn|Chapple|1984|pp=xi-xii}}<ref>{{cite book |author=Surendranath Dasgupta |title=A History of Indian Philosophy |date=2 January 1933 |volume=2 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0521047791 |pages=252–253}}</ref> Yoga Vashishtha teachings are structured as stories and fables,{{sfn|Venkatesananda|1984|pp=51, 77, 87, 121, 147, 180, 188, 306, 315, 354, 410}} with a philosophical foundation similar to those found in [[Advaita Vedanta]].{{sfn|Chapple|1984|pp=ix-x with footnote 3}}<ref>{{cite book|author=K. N. Aiyer |year=1975 |title=Laghu-Yoga-Vasishta |publisher=Theosophical Publishing House |others=Original Author: Abhinanda |isbn=978-0835674973 |page=5}}</ref>{{sfn|Leslie|2003|pp=104}} The text is also notable for its discussion of [[Yoga]].<ref>{{cite journal |first=G. Watts |last=Cunningham |year=1948 |jstor=2181797 |title=How Far to the Land of Yoga? An Experiment in Understanding |journal=The Philosophical Review |volume=57 |issue=6 |pages=573–589|doi=10.2307/2181797 }}</ref><ref>F Chenet (1987), Bhāvanā et Créativité de la Conscience, Numen, Vol. 34, Fasc. 1, pages 45-96 (in French)</ref> According to Christopher Chapple – a professor of Indic studies specializing in Yoga and Indian religions, the ''Yoga Vashishtha'' philosophy can be summarized as, "Human effort can be used for self-betterment and that there is no such thing as an external fate imposed by the gods".{{sfn|Chapple|1984|pp=x-xi with footnote 4}}
*The ''[[Agni Purana]]'' is attributed to Vashishtha.<ref name="wilsonxxxvi" />
*The ''[[Vishnu Purana]]'' is attributed to Vashishtha along with Rishi Pulatsya. He has also contributed to many Vedic hymns and is seen as the arranger of [[Vedas]] during ''[[Dvapara Yuga]]''.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}

==Mythology==
===Birth===
[[File:Vishvamitra and Vasishtha.jpg|thumb|King Vishvamitra visits Vasishtha (left)]]
According to Mandala 7 of the Rigveda{{Citation needed|date=December 2022|reason=The provided citation has the title of The Rigveda: The Earliest Religious Poetry of India but it links to (via ISBN) Rigveda: A guide. Moreover this linked book doesn't even have the terms relevant to this section ("Varuna", "Mitra","Aditi"). I have removed that citation: (Stephanie Jamison (2015). The Rigveda –– Earliest Religious Poetry of India. Oxford University Press. p. 924. ISBN 978-0190633394.))}}, the gods [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]]-[[Varuna]] and the [[apsara]] [[Urvashi]] are mentioned as his parents. In the story, Mitra and Varuna are performing a [[yajna]] (fire-sacrifice), when they see Urvasi and become sexually aroused. They ejaculate their semen into a [[Pitcher (container)|pitcher]], from which Vasishtha is born after a few days.

Vasishtha's birth story is retold in many later Hindu scriptures. The ''[[Puranas]]'' state that he has three births. In the first, he is a [[Manasputra]] (mind-born son) created by the god [[Brahma]]. After the destruction of the [[Daksha yajna|Daksha Yajna]], Vasishtha is killed, but is recreated by Brahma. Vashishtha became the royal guru of [[Nimi (Vedic king)|Nimi]], a king. However, Nimi forgot to invite Vashishtha in a yajna and in rage, Vashishtha cursed Nimi to die soon. Nimi responded by offering him with the same curse. Frightened, Vashishtha ran towards his father, Brahma. Brahma suggested him to emerge in [[Varuna]] and [[Mitra (Vedic)|Mitra]]. When [[Urvashi]] was seen by Varuna and Mitra, Vashishtha remerged from them.<ref name="Satyamayananda">{{Cite book |last=Satyamayananda |first=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1iGKDwAAQBAJ&q=vashishtha+birth&pg=PT35 |title=Ancient Sages |date=2019 |publisher=Advaita Ashrama (A publication branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math) |isbn=978-81-7505-923-8}}</ref><ref name="wisdomlib">{{Cite web |date=2019-01-28 |title=Story of Vasiṣṭha |url=https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/compilation/puranic-encyclopaedia/d/doc242047.html |access-date=2020-10-14 |website=www.wisdomlib.org}}</ref>

According to Agarwal, one story states that Vashishtha wanted to commit suicide by falling into river [[Sarasvati|Saraswati]]. But the river prevented this sacrilege by splitting into hundreds of shallow channels. This story, states Agarwal, may have very ancient roots, where "the early man observed the braiding process of the Satluj" and because such a story could not have invented without the residents observing an ancient river (in Rajasthan) drying up and its tributaries such as Sutlej reflowing to merge into Indus river.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Legends as models of Science|jstor=42930266|date=1990|volume=49|pages=41–42|last=Agarwal|first= D.P.|journal= Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute}}{{Subscription required|url= http://www.indianscience.org/essays/t_es_agarw_legends.shtml}}</ref>

===Rivalry with Vishwamitra===
Vashishtha is known for his feud with Vishwamitra. The king Vishwamitra coveted Vashistha's divine cow Nandini ([[Kamadhenu]]) that could fulfil material desires. Vashishtha destroyed Vishwamitra's army and sons. Vishwamitra acquired weapons from Lord Shiva and incinerated Vashishtha's hermitage and sons, but Vashistha baffled all of Vishwamitra's weapons. There is also an instance mentioned in the Mandala 7, of the Rigveda about the Dasharadnya Battle. This battle was fought as King Sudas of Bharata tribe appointed Vashishtha instead of Vishwamitra as his main priest. However later, Vishwamitra betook severe penances for thousands of years and became a Brahmarshi. He eventually reconciled with Vashishtha.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Kanuga|first=G. B.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zHgW9SezCqoC&q=vishwamitra+Kamdhenu&pg=PA88|title=Immortal Love of Rama|date=1993|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-1-897829-50-9}}</ref>

===Disciples===
{{refimprove section|date=October 2022}}
[[File:Guru Vasishtha teaching Rama.jpg|thumb|Vasishtha teaching Rama]]
Vashishtha is best known as the priest and preceptor, teacher of the Ikshvaku kings clan. He was also the preceptor of Manu, the progenitor of Kshatriyas and Ikshvaku's father. Other characters like Nahusha, Rantideva, lord Rama and Bhishma were his disciples. When the Bharata king Samvarta lost his kingdom to the Panchalas, he became the disciple of Vashistha. Under Vashistha's guidance, Samvarta regained his kingdom and became the ruler of the earth.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Rishi Vasishtha : Ishta Guru Of Lord Ram - Humans Of Uttarakhand|date=3 June 2021 |url=https://www.humansofuttarakhand.com/rishi-vasishtha-ishta-guru-of-lord-ram/|access-date=2021-12-03|language=en-US}}</ref>

==The ''Vashishtha Head''==

A copper casting of a human head styled in the manner described for Vashishtha was discovered in 1958 in Delhi. This piece has been dated to around 3700 BCE, plus minus 800 years, in three western universities (ETH Zurich, Stanford and UC) using among other methods carbon-14 dating tests, spectrographic analysis, [[X-ray]] dispersal analysis and [[metallography]].<ref name="Bryant2003p164"/><ref>Harry Hicks and Robert Anderson (1990), [http://www.jies.org/docs/jies_index/Vol18.html Analysis of an Indo-European Vedic Aryan Head – 4500-2500 B.C.], in ''Journal of Indo European studies'', Vol. 18, pp 425–446. Fall 1990.</ref> This piece is called "Vashishtha head", because the features, hairstyle, [[tilak]] and other features of the casting resembles the description for Vashishtha in Hindu texts.<ref name="Bryant2003p164">{{cite book|author=Edwin Bryant|title=The Quest for the Origins of Vedic Culture: The Indo-Aryan Migration Debate |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y2jfHlinW4UC&pg=PA164 |year=2003|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-516947-8|page=164}}</ref>

The significance of "Vashishtha head" is unclear because it was not found at an archaeological site, but in open Delhi market where it was scheduled to be remelted. Further, the head had an inscription of "Narayana" suggesting that the item was produced in a much later millennium. The item, states Edwin Bryant, likely was re-cast and produced from an ancient pre-2800 BCE copper item that left significant traces of matter with the observed C-14 dating.<ref name="Bryant2003p164"/>

== Vashishtha Temples==
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2020}}
[[Image:Vashisht temple.jpg|thumb|250px|Vashishtha Temple, in [[Vashisht (Village)|Vashisht]] village, [[Himachal Pradesh]]]]
[[File:Aarattupuzha shree dharma sastha temple.JPG|thumb|Vasishta Temple at Arattupuzha, Kerala]]

There is an Ashram dedicated to Vashishtha in [[Guwahati]], [[India]]. This Ashram is situated close to [[Assam]]-[[Meghalaya]] border to the south of [[Guwahati]] city and is a major tourist attraction of Guwahati. Vashishtha's Temple is situated in [[Vashisht (Village)|Vashisht]] village, Himachal Pradesh. Vashishtha Cave, a cave on the banks of [[Ganges]] at Shivpuri, 18 km from [[Rishikesh]] is also locally believed to be his winter abode and houses a Shiva temple, also nearby is Arundhati Cave.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

Guru Vashishtha is also the primary deity at [[Arattupuzha Temple]] known as Arattupuzha Sree Dharmasastha in [[Arattupuzha]] village in [[Thrissur]] district of [[Kerala]]. The famous [[Arattupuzha Pooram]] is a yearly celebration where Sri Rama comes from the [[Thriprayar Temple]] to pay obeisance to his Guru at Arattupuzha temple.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

==See also==
{{Commons category}}
* [[Agastya]]
* [[Aruni]]
* [[Atri]]
* [[Kashyapa]]
*[[List of Indian philosophers]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
* {{harvc |last=Chapple |first=Christopher |author-link=Christopher Chapple |in=Venkatesananda |c=Introduction |year=1984}}
* {{cite book|first=Robert|last=Lingat|title=The Classical Law of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Sauo8iSIj7YC |year=1973 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-01898-3 }}
* {{cite book|first=Patrick|last=Olivelle|year=1999|title=Dharmasutras: The Law Codes of Ancient India |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=gnVxqvPg9a0C|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-283882-7}}
* {{cite book|first=Patrick|last=Olivelle|title=Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=efaOR_-YsIcC |year=2006|publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-977507-1 }}
* {{cite book |title=The Philosophy of the Yoga Vashista. A Comparative Critical and Synthetic Survey of the Philosophical Ideas of Vashista as presented in the Yoga-Vashista Maha-Ramayan. Based on a thesis approved for the degree of Doctor of Letters in the Banaras Hindu University |publisher=Darshana Printers |location=Moradabad |first=B. L. |last=Atreya |date=1981|orig-year= 1935) |page=467}}
* {{Cite book |last=Leslie |first=Julia |year=2003 |title=Authority and meaning in Indian religions: Hinduism and the case of Vālmīki |publisher=Ashgate Publishing |isbn=0-7546-3431-0 |url=https://archive.org/details/authoritymeaning00lesl |url-access=registration}}
*{{cite book |title=The Vision and the Way of Vashista |publisher=Indian Heritage Trust |location=Madras |first=B. L. |last=Atreya |date=1993 |oclc=30508760 |page=583}} Selected verses, sorted by subject, in both Sanskrit and English text.
*{{cite book |title=The Essence of Yogavaasishtha |publisher=Samata Books |location=Chennai |author=Vālmīki |others=Compiled by Sri Jnanananda Bharati, translated by Samvid |orig-year=1982|date=2002 |pages=344}} Sanskrit and English text.
*{{cite book |title=Yoga Vashista Sara: The Essence of Yoga Vashista |publisher=Sri Ramanasramam |location=Tiruvannamalai |author=Vālmīki |others=trans. Swami Surēśānanda |date=1976 |oclc=10560384 |pages=29}} Very short condensation.
* {{cite book |editor-last= Venkatesananda |editor-first=S. |editor-link=Swami Venkatesananda |translator=[[Swami Venkatesananda]] |title=The Concise Yoga Vāsiṣṭha |publisher=State University of New York Press |location=Albany |year=1984 |isbn=0-87395-955-8 |oclc=11044869 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1FFdOj2dv8cC}}

{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}
{{Rigveda}}
{{Ramayana}}

[[Category:Rishis]]
[[Category:Indian astrologers]]
[[Category:Ancient Indian astronomers]]
[[Category:Ancient astrologers]]
[[Category:Prajapatis]]
[[Category:Brahmin gotras]]
[[Category:Sages in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Characters in the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Saptarishi]]

Vasishtha - Revision history

Tijusacademyoet: added section per standard format and added references

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