'Rishi' is a word meaning 'sage' in Indian mythology. Rishis are described as very powerful.

Their power is described in terms of boons and curses - if the rishi said that something would happen, good or bad, it WOULD happen. People would court rishis to ask for favours. They would be wary around some particularly bad-tempered sages, to avoid their wrath.

I have a different take on this.

I think that the traditional description - that power allows you to make something happen - is flipped. Really, it should be the other way round.

If you're a person who keeps doing stuff happen because you said you would, you're a rishi in my book.

Power is the result, not the source, of doing things, for no other reason than that you said you would.