Vishvamitra in the context of "Andhras"

Menaka (Sanskrit: मेनका IAST: Menakā) is a prominent apsara (celestial nymph) in Hindu mythology, celebrated as one of the most beautiful dancers in the court of Indra, the king of the gods. She is often portrayed as an archetypal seductress, frequently dispatched by the gods to disrupt the penance of sages whose growing spiritual power threatens the celestial order.

Menaka is best known for her role in the seduction of the sage Vishvamitra, a story recounted in various Hindu texts and classical Sanskrit literature. In this episode, the gods, fearing Vishvamitra's ascetic strength, send Menaka to tempt him. With her beauty and charm, she succeeds in captivating him, temporarily deviating him from his spiritual path. From this union, Menaka becomes the mother of Shakuntala, a celebrated heroine in classical literature.

Bharata (Sanskrit: भरत, romanized: Bharata) is a legendary emperor featured in Hindu literature. He is a member of the Chandravamsha dynasty, and becomes the Chakravarti (Chakra possessing emperor). He is regarded to be the ancestor of the Pandavas, the Kauravas, Brihadratha and Jarasandha.

The legend of Bharata is featured in the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata, where he is mentioned as the son of Dushyanta and Shakuntala. The story of his parents and his birth is related in Kalidasa's famous play, Abhijñānashākuntala. He is a descendant of rajarshi Vishvamitra.

The Saptarshi (Sanskrit: सप्तर्षि, lit. 'Seven sages' IAST: Saptarṣi) are the seven seers of ancient India who are extolled in the Vedas, and other Hindu literature such as the Skanda Purana. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, although later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do, so these constellations are easily recognizable.

The third Mandala of the Rigveda has 62 hymns, mainly to Agni and Indra. It is one of the "family books" (mandalas 2-7), the oldest core of the Rigveda, which were composed in early Vedic period (1500 – 1000 BCE). Most hymns in this book are attributed to Viśvāmitra Gāthinaḥ.

The verse 3.62.10 gained great importance in Hinduism as the Gayatri Mantra.

The Gāyatrī Mantra (Sanskrit pronunciation: [ɡaː.jɐ.triː.mɐn.trɐ.]), also known as the Sāvitrī Mantra (Sanskrit pronunciation: [saː.vi.triː.mɐn.trɐ.]), is a sacred mantra from the Ṛig Veda (Mandala 3.62.10), dedicated to the Vedic deity Savitr. The mantra is attributed to the brahmarshi Vishvamitra.

The term Gāyatrī may also refer to a type of mantra which follows the same Vedic metre as the original Gāyatrī Mantra (without the first line). There are many such Gāyatrīs for various gods and goddesses. Furthermore, Gāyatrī is the name of the Goddess of the mantra and the meter.

Vasishtha (Sanskrit: वसिष्ठ, lit. 'most excellent', IAST: Vasiṣṭha) is one of the oldest and revered Vedic rishis or sages, and one of the Saptarishis (seven great Rishis). Vasishtha is credited as the chief author of Mandala 7 of the Rigveda. Vasishtha and his family are mentioned in Rigvedic verse 10.167.4, other Rigvedic mandalas and in many Vedic texts. His ideas have been influential and he was called the first sage of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy by Adi Shankara.

The Yoga Vasishtha, Vasishtha Samhita, as well as some versions of the Agni Purana and Vishnu Purana are attributed to him. He is the subject of many stories, such as him being in possession of the divine cow Kamadhenu and Nandini her child, who could grant anything to their owners. He is famous in Hindu stories for his legendary conflicts with sage Vishvamitra. In the Ramayana, he was the family priest of the Raghu dynasty and teacher of Rama and his brothers.