RISHI,MUNI,SADHU,GURU SADHAK,SANNYASI,YOGI SARASIJ MAJUMDUR In our country, all the persons listed above are not generally differentiated much, by us. Writers also, somewhat loosely used the nomenclatures in their writings. Though they have many commonalities, each one of them is different, in their PRACTICE, PURPOSE OF LIFE, AND LEADING THE LIFE. We will discuss about them, with the basic differences, in short. The one thing common about them is- that all of them are ‘Spiritual Persons’, and carry the higher form of ‘Sanatan Dharma’, or ‘Hinduism’—as we may understand easily. 1.0 RISHI: He is connected to, and composer of VEDA, Vedanga, Vedanta--or Knowledge. There are a few higher stratas as well e.g. MAHARSHI (KANWA), RAJARSHI (King Janaka), DEBARSHI (NARODA), ‘SHRUTORSHI’—who learned, and remember VEDAS by hearing, e.g. Vasishta; or only ‘Rishi’-e.g. Gautama. There are 18 ‘VEDABYASAS’—and all are ‘MAHARSHIS’. ...