What is the difference between the word swami and rishi?

Answer 1

Oh, dude, you're hitting me with the deep questions now! So, like, a swami is a spiritual teacher or leader in Hinduism, while a rishi is a sage or seer known for their wisdom and insight. It's like the swami is your guru guiding you on your spiritual journey, and the rishi is that old wise dude dropping knowledge bombs left and right.

Answer 2

In Hinduism the word Swami is used for any person who takes sanyas (self renunciation) but may not be a scholar of scriptures or spiritualism. He often wears safforan coloured robes.

A Rishi means a sage who authors sacred hymns or composes, recites and remembers vedic mantras. Practising Yamas and Niyams he acquires a high level of intellectual spirituality and ascetic personality.