Mānasaputra
Mānasaputra is a combined Sanskrit term meaning the "mind-born" or "sons of mind" (from mānasa (मानस) "mind" + putra (पुत्र)"son"). In Hinduism they are known as the Seven Rishis or Prajapatis. The online Mythology Dictionary defines them as follows:
The Seven Rishis: Wise men, created from the brain of Brahma. They are listed as Atri, Bharadwaja, Gotama, Jamad-agni, Kashyapa, Vashishtha and Vishwamitra. Vishnu, in his sixth avatar as Parasurama, delivered the world into their hands and they now appear in the sky as the seven stars of the Plough constellation. Another list gives Agastya, Angiras, Atri, Bhrigu, Kashyapa, Vashishtha and Vishvamitra while another lists Angiras, Brighu, Daksha, Kashyapa, Narada, Vashishtha and Vishvamitra. Yet another list gives ten, omitting Vishvamitra and adding Atri, Kratu, Pulaha and Pulastya. Some accounts list fourteen: Angiras, Atri, Bharadwaja, Brighu, Daksha, Gorama, Jamad-agni, Kashyapa, Kratu, Marichi, Pulaha, Pulastra, Vashishtha and Vishvamitra. These personages are often referred to as the Prajapati. In some accounts, known as Manasa Putra, Manasaputra, Prajapati, Seven Brahma Rishis, Seven Sages, Seven Seers, Saptarshi or rishi.[1]
Manasaputras in Theosophy
Helena Petrovna Blavatsky defined them as follows:
Manasaputra (Sans.) Lit., the "Sons of Mind" or mind-born Sons; a name given to our Higher Egos before they incarnated in mankind. In the exoteric though allegorical and symbolical Puranas (the sacred and ancient writings of Hindus), it is the title given to the mind-born Sons of Brahma, the Kumara.[2]
The Sons of Wisdom
Some Manasaputras are "the Sons of Wisdom who informed the mindless man, and endowed him with his mind (manas)."[3]
Notes
- ↑ Seven Rishis at Mythology Dictionary
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, "The Key to Theosophy", Glossary (???), ???.
- ↑ Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine vol. II, (Wheaton, IL: Theosophical Publishing House, 1993), 608.