Where there is knowledge, there is light. Where there is light, there is no place for darkness. The one who keeps the light of knowledge glowing is the Rishi. In our Sanatana Dharma , a Rishi is defined as an enlightened person of the supreme truth and knowledge. The word Rsi meaning to go, to flow, to move on indicates the true sense of the nature of a Rishi who urges for the need of knowledge to go on, to move and spread into various avenues and flow with the times eternal with the light of knowledge leading the way.
Our Sanatana Dharma recognises a great sage, seer, rishi as the one who have composed the Vedas into hymns. The Rishi is the one who has understood the Brahman and they are revered as the sons of Brahma Ji. The first rishis are the Manasa putras. The second are the Kumaras. The third are the Prajapatis who individually are responsible for the birth of a clan in the creation.
The names of the Brahma Manasaputras are Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Marichi, Pulaha, Kratu, Vashishta, Daksha, Narada, Chitragupta. The Manasaputras were born from the mind of Brahma and the highest ones of knowledge. They assist Brahma Ji various roles to sustain the Dharma of the three worlds.
The Kumaras too are regarded as the sons of Brahma ji. What makes them special is that born as children, they always are children and at the age of five years and immortal. Hence, they are known as the Bala Rishis too. They were created by Brahma Ji after he learnt the Vedas from Bhagwan Vishnu and devoted their life to the preaching of Vedas learnt from their father. The names are Sanaka, Sananda, Sanatana and Sanatkumar
The Prajapatis are also the Manasa putras of Brahma Ji, with a special role which is to reproduce the clans of male and female, animals, birds etc, and take forward the creation of life. As they are capable of producing an individual clan of life, they are considered equal to Brahma Ji. They are also the protectors of their individual clans. Rishi Kashyap is regarded as the most important Prajapati of all, as he is the one who is responsible for the birth of celestials, demons, humans, animals and birds.
Another Prajapati who is quite popular is Daksh, the father of Sati and the twenty seven Nakshatras.
Not ending here, There are the first Rishis who through their immense knowledge of the Vedas and Sastras mentor and lead mankind onto the path of Dharma. There are six kinds of classification of the same namely the Brahmarshi, belonging to the highest cadre of the Brahma community. Then comes the Devarshi, who is equal in knowledge to the celestial devas. Rajarshi is a king, but the embodiment of wisdom among the Kshatriya community. The Maharshi or the Paramarshi are the Rishis known for their exalted and highest wisdom among men. The Shrutarshi are the ones who hears the Vedas from the teachers. The Kaandarshi are the Rishis adept in different kandas of Vedas and finally are the Janarshi where in a common man becomes a Rishi with knowledge of the Brahman.
With a roleplay in every different aspect of sustaining the creation, the Rishis are the ones who are revered as next to the Almighty in our Sanatana Dharma and the representations of knowledge and wisdom for all times past, present and future.