Rajarshi is a title in Hinduism and Hindu mythology, referring to a sage who hails from a royal background.[1]
A rajarshi may be described to be a king (raja) who adopted a path of devotion, thereby becoming a royal sage (rishi). A rajarshi does not have to leave the kingship to become rishi, as in the example of Vishvamitra (who later becomes a Brahmarishi), but could attain the status of a sage through self-realisation during his reign. A rajarshi still performs the duties of their kshatriya class, and remain similar to most rishis, maharishis, and brahmarishis descendants in their level of spiritual knowledge.[2] Another example of Rajarshi is King Janaka, who is said to have attained self-Knowledge from the ascetic sage Astavakra.
They belong to the four types of rishis mentioned in Hinduism and Vedas.
In the Ramayana, Brahma proclaims Vishvamitra to be a rajarshi in response to the sage performing austerities for a thousand years.[3]