HINDU ENCYCLOPEDIA

सनातन धर्म भूमिका

Meaning of "Arundhati"

Word

Arundhati

Sanskrit

अरुन्धती

IAST

arundhatī

In General

Arundhati was wife of Sage Vasistha and one of the celebrated chaste women of Vedic period. She was well educated, did lot of Tapa and is considered as a personality equal to that of any rishis. She is daughter of Prajapati Kardama and Devahuti.

Veda

Veda Samhita do not mention about Arundhati but Brahmana Text refer about her and her sons.

Purana

Arundhati was known by the name Urja also. In her previous birth she was Sandhya. She was born from the passion of Brahma. As soon as she was born she grew up. Seeing her exquisite Beauty the Prajapati felt sexual desire; Sandhya felt ashamed. Sandhya burned her body in the yajna conducted by Medhatithi, the son of Priyavrata and came out from yajna fire as daughter of Medhatithi.

Once Arundhati happened to see Vasistha who was shining with radiance. They fell in love with each other and got married. The marriage of ArundhatI with Vasistha was solemnized in the presence of the Gods. Arundhati bore one hundred sons, the eldest being Sakti, but unfortunately all of them were cursed to be killed by Sage Vishvamitra. After that she had seven sons, named Citraketu, Purocis, Viraca, Mitra, Ulbana, Vasubhrdyana and Dyuman. All the seven of them were Brahmarsis.

Arundhati and Vasistha became stars after their life on earth. Vasista is bright star and Arunthati just a dim shadow star. Both the stars never part away and rotate each other. Aurndhati and Vasistha were very respected and are ideal couple. The custom of showing the newly married women, the star Arundhati is because of their virtue. The meaning of this custom is to develop the good qualities of Arundhati should be acquired and developed by the newly married women.

When Arundhati and Vasistha were eaten up by wolfs (Kalmashapada), they lost all desire to live. In spite of their knowledge in Veda they decided to commit suicide. They jumped from the hill top, but earth protected them. While trying for another attempt the child from the womb of Adrishyanti, wife of their son Sakti chanted Vedic hymn. This nurtured their desire to live again. The child later became famous as Parasara muni.

The hermitage of Vasistha was situated in the valley of mount Mahameru according to M.B. But, according to most of the Purana stories Vasista's Gurukula was on the banks of river Saraswati, where he taught a large number of students including Sri Rama.

Reference

Bg.P. ; Si.P. ; Kl.P. ; M.B.

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Word Sanskrit IAST In General Veda Purana