The Saptarishis . BIG DIPPER (URSHA MAJOR) is called SAPTARISHI. The 7 (Seven) stars.

The Saptarishis –

The earliest list of Seven Rishis or Saptarishis is given in Jaiminiya Brahman 2.218-221. 

They are Augustaya, Atri, Bharadwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Vasishtha and Vishwamitra.

’Shatapatha Brahman’ says – Atri, Bharadwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vasishtha and Vishwamitra.

The Gopath Brahmin 1.2.8 has another list of 7 Rishis: Bharadwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Vasishtha, Vishwamitra, Kashyapa, Augustaya, Gangu and Bhrigu.

In Krishna Yajurveda’s Sandhya Vandana Mantra there are the name of these 7 Rishis – ANGIRAS, ATRI, BHRIGU, GAUTAM,KASHYAPA, KUTSA, VASISTHA.

Brihadaranyaka Upnishada 2.2.6 is with a slightly different list of 7 Rishis - Atri, Bharadwaja, Gautam, Jamadagni, Kashyapa, Vasishtha, Shandilya and Bhrigu.

MAHABHARTA gives another seven 7 Rishis name – MARICHI, ATRI, PULAHA, PULASTYA, KRATU, VASISTHA and KASHYAPA.

Out of these seven Rishis, Viaswamitra was basically a Kshatriya king, who chose and rose to become an ascetic Brahmin Rishi.

In ancient Indian Astronomy, the constellation of the BIG DIPPER (URSHA MAJOR) is called SAPTARISHI. 

The 7 (Seven) stars representing Seven Rishis.

They are VASISTHA, MARICHI, PULASTYA, PULAHA, ATRI, ANGIRAS and KARTU.

There is another star slightly visible near it, it is known as ARUNDHATI, the wife of VASISTHA. VASISTHA and ARUNDHATI together form the Mizar Double.

As per legend, the Seven Rishis in the next Manvatara will be DIPTIMAT, GALAVA, PARSHURAMA, KRIPA, DRAUNI or ASHWATHAMA, VYASA and RISHYASRINGA.