Note 174 — Chapter III
Reading edition
The Rishis were seven in number, and lived in days anteceding the Vedic period. They were known as sages, and held in reverence like demi-gods. Haug shows that they occupy in the Brahmanical religion a position answering to that of the twelve sons of Jacob in the Jewish Bible. The Brahmans claim to descend directly from these Rishis.