Definition of Saptarishi

The Saptarshi ( a Sanskrit dvigu meaning "seven sages") are the seven  rishis who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and other Hindu literature. The Vedas never actually enumerate these rishis by name, though later texts do so. They are regarded in the Vedas as the patriarchs of the Vedic religion. The Big Dipper is also named as Saptarshi.