A motley crew of visionaries lent their voices to the Atharvaveda, but at the forefront stand two towering figures: Atharvan himself and the venerable Angiras. Their names gave the text both its identity and much of its early character—Atharvan’s clan specializing in healing charms, Angiras’s line weaving folk wisdom into spells.

Branching out from these primary rishis, several other seer-families contributed entire hymns or sporadic verses:

• Bhardvaja: Often invoked for strength and protection, this lineage appears throughout the collection, whether in remedies against fevers or rituals to ward off malevolent forces.
• Vashistha: Known more for cosmic insights in the Ṛgveda, here Vashistha’s verses surface in folk practices—binding curses and crafting potions.
• Bhrigu: Bringing an almost experimental flair, Bhrigu’s contributions discuss diagnostic techniques and herbal lore that feel surprisingly modern.
• Usana (Shukra): His verses touch on the marital sphere—love charms, fertility rites—and highlight the Atharvan tradition’s embrace of everyday life.
• Kanva and Kashyapa: While less voluminous, their spells sprinkle through the text, adding regional color—one might imagine them as itinerant healers trading notes by riverside firelight.

Today’s resurgence in plant-based wellness and holistic healing has shone a fresh spotlight on these rishis. Universities in 2024 digitized Atharvaveda manuscripts, unlocking manuscripts that suggest several verses predate those of the earlier Vedas. These seers didn’t just chant—they documented a people’s hopes, fears and remedies, casting a net that still pulls in curious scholars and modern-day wellness enthusiasts alike.