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). The Rigveda (10.85.19) mentions Arundhati as a star associated with marriage and fidelity. The Mahabharata (Anushasana Parva 130.8) recounts her as an exemplar of chastity and devotion, who remained steadfast even when Vashishta was tested by the gods. According to the Skanda Purana (Maheshvara Khanda 3.1), Arundhati was originally a celestial maiden who chose Vashishta as her husband, and her unwavering loyalty earned her a place among the stars.

Iconographically, Arundhati is depicted as a bright star near Vashishta (Mizar) in the night sky. In anthropomorphic form, she is shown as a serene, virtuous woman, often seated beside Vashishta, holding a lotus or in a gesture of blessing. Her symbolism centers on marital fidelity, virtue, and constancy. In Hindu wedding ceremonies, the groom points out the star Arundhati to the bride, invoking her as a model of wifely devotion and harmony. This ritual, known as Arundhati Darshanam, is prescribed in the Grihya Sutras (e.g., Paraskara Grihya Sutra 1.8).

Regionally, Arundhati is venerated across India, especially in South Indian weddings where the couple observes the star. In cosmology, Arundhati represents the ideal of dharma within marriage, reminding devotees of the cosmic order upheld by the Saptarshis. Her association with the star Alcor also links her to the concept of the inseparable bond between husband and wife, as Alcor is visually close to Mizar. The Bhagavata Purana (4.1.35) lists Arundhati among the wives of the sages, emphasizing her purity. Thus, Arundhati embodies the virtues of loyalty, patience, and spiritual strength, serving as a celestial guide for married life.

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