According to the Puranas,the Saptarishis were ardent disciples and followers of Lord Vishwanath. Such were their bakthi towards the lord that even in times of distress and difficulties God was always with them.

During this period, Prajapati Daksha had arranged for a grand Yajna(ritual sacrifice).He had invited all the members of his family, allies, gods, sages, courtiers and subjects: excluding lord Shiva and mother Sati. Sati told  Lord Viswanath “ My father has organized the Yajna, we should attend the yajna”. Lord Vishwanath tried to dissuade Sati, he said, “Your father hasnot invited us to the yajna, so it would be in the best interest not to attend the yajna”. Sati was resolved to go, after much persuasion Lord Viswanath granted her permission , with Nandi as her escort. At the Yajna Sati was hurt by the insult meted out to her and her husband. Sati was devastated and in disgust and anger she jumped into the fire of the Yajna.

Nandi reported back to Lord Viswanath the events that had occurred. Lord Shiva was livid with rage and he took to Rudra form and fiercely tore his hair out and from this hair the fiercest warrior Virabhadhra was born. Lord Vishwanath commanded Virabhadra to go to the yajna and destroy the yajana, the guests and to cut of daksha’s head and to offer it as sacrifice into the yajna mandap. Lord Vishwanath then carried the lifeless body of Sati in a remorseful state and began roaming the earth. Lord Vishnu, then intervened  and he cut Sati’s body into 51 pieces which fell on earth at various places, these 51 places are called Shakthi Peethas and mother Sati’s eyes had fallen at Kasi, and is known as Visalakshi.

After this incident Lord Viswanath went into long deep meditation for some eons. The gods and goddess ,gandharvas, kinar tried to break Lord Vishwanath’s penance, but in vain. They then sent Kamdev and his wife Rati to try and break the penance. Kamdev used his Pushpak arrow and the lord Vishwanath meditation was disturbed but Shiva was so angered by this that he opened his third eye and burnt Kamadev to ashes .He went back again to his penance. The gods and goddesses then sought the help of the Saptarishis,”please try and find a solution to please lord Vishwanath”. The Saptarishi mandal with the help of the Samaveda letters formed the Shiva Stuthi. Lord Vishwanath penance ended, he was extremely happy with the Saptarishis. He granted them wishes; the Saptarishis wished that Lord Vishwanath marry goddess Parvathy for the good of the Universe. Lord Vishwanath accepted this wish.

From this day on Saptarishi pooja is held at Kasi Vishwanath Temple. This arthi takes place during the evenings when the Saptarishi mandal appears in the sky, that is when the saptarishi arthi reaches its completion. During summer months the Saptarishi mandal makes their appearance in the sky at 7:30 p.m.; during winter at 7p.m. This is when the arthi is completed.

The Kasi Vishwanath Temple was destroyed by Aurangzeb, but this did not stop the Saptarishi arthi from taking place. The Saptarishi pooja was continued at the AtmaVisweshwar Temple for 100 years. Later the temple was restored at Kasi and the arthi is again being performed here.

1. Rishi Vishwamitra
2. Rishi Jamdagni
3. Rishi Bhardwaj
4. Rishi Gautam
5. Rishi Atri
6. Rishi Vashisth
7. Rishi Kashyap