Bond of Love

Arundhati was the daughter of sage Kardama & Devahuti. Rishi Vashishtha married her. Sage Vashishtha was one of the 7 great rishis called “Sapta Rishi”.They are residing in the sky as stars. From the east to west they are in order as follows-Marichi, Vasishtha, Angirasa, Athri, Pulasthya, Pulaaha and Krathu.Arundhati was an ideal wife. Once sage Vashishtha went to Himalayas for tapasya. Arundhati was alone in the forest. In the meantime a great famine occurred. For twelve years the famine continued. The rishi too stayed on in the Himalayas all those twelve years. During that time Arundhati had nothing to eat. She therefore started doing tapas herself. Lord Siva wanted to test her. He came to her dressed like an old Brahmin and asked for food. Arundhati said, "O Brahmin, I have only badari seeds to eat." Lord Siva said, "Will you cook these for me?" Arundhati started a fire. While frying the seeds in it. She told the Brahmin stories and talked of dharma. She neither ate nor slept, but went on explaining dharma. At the end of twelve years, the famine was over. Sage Vashishtha also-returned from the Himalayas. God Siva was pleased with Arundhati's tapas. So He took his real form and said to the sage Vashishtha, "Arundhati's tapas is greater than yours on the Himalayas!" . And he gave boon to her that she will be always remember as an ideal wife.
Even today rishi Vasishtha sits in the sky as a star. Arundhati also sits there by his side. Arundhati is the patron deity of marriage. Newly-married girls see the star Arundhati, They want to love their husbands, and live like her. As the marriage ceremony is over bridegroom show the bride the Star ARUNDHATI as also DHRUVA the polestar. Arundhati is proved as an ideal wife, the embodiment of chastity. DHRUVA is the one who attained immortality through single-minded devotion and perseverance – virtues to be follow through out married life.