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In the series of Indian Saints, Maharshi Vashishtha is famous as a great philosopher and a scholar. There is a mention of Vashishtha right from Vedas to Puranas. He is said to be the one with the vision behind the seventh portion of Rigveda. In the beginning, his ashram was on Himalaya Mountains where he educated his disciples for Vedas, Shashtras, Puranas and various arts. According to one belief, Vashishtha is believed to be one of the ten Manas putras of Lord Brahma. Once North Panchal’s King Devodas visited Vashishtha’s ashram and was so impressed with him that he requested Vashishtha to accept the position of Royal priest. Vashishtha accepted his proposal.

According to an ancient story, Vishvamitra came to Vashishtha and asked him fro his Kamdhenu (a cow believed to yield whatever desired from her) cow Shabla. Vashishtha refused to give away Shabla. At this Vishvamitra forcibly tried to take away Shabla but Vashishtha stopped him. All weapons of Vishvamitra failed in front of Vashishtha’s Brahmatej (divine energy) and he had to return empty handed. After this incidence, there was enmity between these two for a very long time but in the end both these learned scholars put an end to it and start respecting each other. Later, Vashishtha became the Royal Priest of Ishvaku clan.

Vashishtha was the chief priest of the Ashamegh Yagya performed by Suryavanshi ( of the solar race) King Sagar. It was due to the penance of Bhagirath, descendant of King Sagar, that Devi Ganga came down to earth and sixty thousand sons of King Sagar attained salvation.

Vashishtha was not only a great philosopher and an expert in Vedas but also expert in war techniques and using weapons and had the power of many divine weapons. He was also a great scholar of political science and Holy writ. The book “Vashishtha Smriti” written by Vashishtha is an important creation in Indian literature.