Knowledge Bank

Are Brahmavadinis and Rishikas the same?

A Brahmavadi is someone who talks about the eternal knowledge of the Vedas. A Brahmavadini is a female scholar, the feminine gender of Brahmavadi. A Rishi is a male to whom a mantra has been revealed. A Rishika is a female to whom a mantra has been revealed. All Rishikas are Brahmavadinis, but not all Brahmavadinis must be Rishikas.

Who was Adrika?

Adrika was a fish and Satyavati's mother. She was originally an apsaras and became a fish as cursed by Brahma. She was living in a river on earth. King Vasu also known as Uparichara was once in a distant forest. While thinking about his newly wed wife, his semen came out. He sent it to the queen for conceiving through a falcon. As the falcon was flying over the river where Adrika was, it was attacked by another falcon. The semen fell in the river. It was swallowed by Adrika and she became pregnant. The fishermen caught her later and when they cut her open, found a boy and girl inside. Adrika went back to Swarga.