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.

[16] Historically, Vasishtha was a Rigvedic poet and the purohita of Sudās Paijavana, chief of the Bharata tribe.

In Rigvedic hymn 7.33.9, Vasishtha is described as a scholar who moved across the Sarasvati river to establish his school.

[24] He is typically described in ancient and medieval Hindu texts as a sage with long flowing hairs that are neatly tied into a bun that is coiled with a tuft to the right, a beard, a handlebar moustache and a tilak on his forehead.

[25] In Buddhist Pali canonical texts such as Digha Nikaya, Tevijja Sutta describes a discussion between the Buddha and Vedic scholars of his time.

In another hymn, particularly the Rigvedic verse 7.83.9, Vasishtha teaches that the Vedic gods Indra and Varuna are complementary and equally important because one vanquishes the evil by the defeat of enemies in battles, while other sustains the good during peace through socio-ethical laws.

[30] Vasishtha reappears as a character in Hindu texts, through its history, that explore conciliation between conflicting or opposing ideologies.

[31] According to Ellison Findly – a professor of Religion, Vasishtha hymns in the Rigveda are among the most intriguing in many ways and influential.

[34] Some treatises named after him or attributed to him include: According to Mandala 7 of the Rigveda[citation needed], the gods Mitra-Varuna and the apsara Urvashi are mentioned as his parents.

[47][48] According to Agarwal, one story states that Vasishtha wanted to commit suicide by falling into river Sarasvati.

This story, states Agarwal, may have very ancient roots, where "the early man observed the braiding process of the Satluj" and because such a story could not have invented without the residents observing an ancient river (in Rajasthan) drying up and its tributaries such as Sutlej reflowing to merge into Indus river.

The king Vishvamitra coveted Vasishtha's divine cow Nandini (Kamadhenu) that could fulfil material desires.

This battle was fought as King Sudas of Bharata tribe appointed Vashishtha instead of Vishvamitra as his main priest.

[51] A copper casting of a human head styled in the manner described for Vasishtha was discovered in 1958 in Delhi.

[25] The significance of "Vasishtha head" is unclear because it was not found at an archaeological site, but in open Delhi market where it was scheduled to be remelted.