Arundhati

Arundhati is the personification of the star Alcor in the constellation Ursa Major (Saptarshi Mandala). In Vedic and Puranic tradition, she is the wife of the great sage Vashishta, one of the seven sages (Saptarshis). Her name means 'unrestrained' or 'faithful', and she is revered as the embodiment of marital fidelity, virtue, and devotion. The Rigveda (10.85.19) mentions her in the context of the wedding hymn, where she is invoked as a model of wifely dedication.

The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva 130.10) extols her as the ideal pativrata (devoted wife), who remained steadfast even when her husband faced calamities. According to the Skanda Purana (Maheshvara Khanda), Arundhati was born as the daughter of the sage Kardama and was married to Vashishta after a severe penance. She is often associated with the star Alcor, which is used as a test of eyesight in Indian astronomy. In Hindu wedding ceremonies, the groom points to the Arundhati star (or a representation of it) and recites a mantra, praying for a marriage as harmonious and faithful as that of Arundhati and Vashishta.

Iconographically, she is depicted as a bright star or, in anthropomorphic form, as a serene, virtuous woman seated beside Vashishta, often holding a lotus or a pot of water. She symbolizes constancy and the ideal of the devoted wife, and her presence in the night sky serves as a constant reminder of marital virtues. Regional traditions, especially in South India, include the Arundhati Darshanam ritual during weddings, where the couple observes the star. In Hindu cosmology, Arundhati is part of the Saptarshi Mandala, which represents the seven great sages and their consorts, and is considered a celestial guide for righteous living.

Depicted as a bright star. In anthropomorphic form, shown as a serene, virtuous woman alongside Vashishta.