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One of the brightest and easily spottable constellations in the northern sky in the months of March — September is the Great Bear, or also known as Ursa Major. The constellation is known to resemble a question mark or a hammer. It is so big that it takes up a huge part of the sky. When it rises/sets, it is not possible to see all the 7 stars as some of them might have risen, but some will still be on the brink of the horizon (the same thing when it sets).
According to ancient Hindu mythology, these seven stars are known to represent the seven rishis (sages) in Saptarishi Mandalam. Sapta meaning seven in Sanskrit. These sages were known to be the followers of Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe. It’s interesting because on the other side of the Great Bear lies another bright constellation Auriga, which encompasses Capella, the sixth brightest star visible from Earth. This constellation Auriga is known to represent a chariot or a throne. The ancient Hindus believed the same and that the chariot belonged to Lord Brahma and Capella being the heart of Brahma (as it is the brightest star in the constellation). Hence it explains why they named the star Brahma Ridaya, the very beating heart of Brahma. This way, every year, there is an endless cycle of rising and setting of Lord Brahma and the seven sages.
Another bright and widely known celestial object is the Pleiades, or as the Hindus call it, Krithika. It is a star cluster that is visible to the naked eye on a clear day. It is home to about 800 stars, but only seven of them are visible when seen through a pair of binoculars or telescope (located from inside a city, light pollution of 7–8). Although it is said that the Pleiades is made up of 7 bright stars, or according to Greek Mythology, the 7 seven sisters (Alcyone being the brightest), but when seen through a sky watching object, only six of them are seen.
Here’s why. As per the stories of the ancient Hindus, the Pleiades and the Great Bear existed in the…
