Characteristic of certain categories of ancient Indoaryan ritual figures

Article presents a characteristic of certain categories of ancient indoaryan ritual figures: rishi and vipra and reveals the specifics of their functioning. Rishi's specialization was the ability to get in touch with gods, compose and understand hymns. On basis of Rigveda hymns content study the author examines the technologies of obtaining a sacral state of religious exaltation - dhi. As the author claims main rishi and vipra features, as well as ways and methods of their activities enable us to derive them from indoiranian shamanistic complex.