The Big Dipper (US, Canada) or the Plough (UK, Ireland) is a large asterism consisting of seven bright stars of the constellation Ursa Major; six of them are of second magnitude and one, Megrez (δ), of third magnitude. Four define a “bowl” or “body” and three define a “handle” or “head”.
In ancient Indian astronomy, the asterism of the Big Dipper is called Saptarishi, with the seven stars representing seven rishis or saints, namely “Vashistha”, “Marichi”, “Pulastya”, “Pulaha”, “Atri”, “Angiras” and “Kratu”. There is another star slightly visible within it, known as “Arundhati”. Arundhati and Vashishtha are married and together form the Mizar double.
The names of the stars as listed in modern catalogs carry forward from Arabic nomenclature. Dubhe derives from the Arabic for ‘bear’, dubb, from the phrase ظهر الدب الاكبر żahr ad-dubb al-akbar ‘the back of the Greater Bear’. Merak derived from the Arabic المراق al-maraqq ‘the loins’ (of the bear). Phecda or Phad, derived from the Arabic phrase فخذ الدب fakhth al-dubb ‘thigh of the bear’. Megrez comes from the Arabic: المغرز al-maghriz ‘the base [of the bear’s tail]’
By Sidney Hall – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3g10076.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing for more information., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31350572
Alioth comes from the Arabic alyat al-hamal (“the sheep’s fat tail”). Mizar derives from the Arabic المئزر miʼzar meaning ‘apron; a wrapper, covering, cover’. Alkaid derives from the Arabic phrase meaning “The leader of the daughters of the bier” (قائد بنات نعش qā’id bināt naʿsh). The daughters of the bier, i.e. the mourning maidens, are the three stars of the handle of the Big Dipper, Alkaid, Mizar, and Alioth; while the four stars of the bowl, Megrez, Phecda, Merak, and Dubhe, are the bier.
The seven Rishis of the Saptarishi according to the Hindu nomenclature are shown pictorially below.
Bhrigu (Sanskrit: Bhṛgu) was one of the seven great sages, the Saptarshis, one of the many Prajapatis (the facilitators of Creation) created by Brahma. The first compiler of predictive astrology, and also the author of Bhrigu Samhita, the astrological (Jyotish) classic, Bhrigu is considered a Manasa Putra (“mind-born-son”) of Brahma. The adjectival form of the name, Bhargava, is used to refer to the descendants and the school of Bhrigu.
Marichi or Mareechi or Marishi (ṛṣi Marīci, ऋषि मरीचि) (meaning “ray of light”) was the mindborn son of Brahma and one of the Saptarishi. He is also the father of Kashyapa and the grandfather of the Devas and Asuras.
Vasishtha (Sanskrit: वसीष्ठ, IAST: Vasiṣṭha) is one of the oldest and most revered Vedic rishis or sages. He is one of the Saptarishis (seven great Rishis) of India. Vashistha is credited as the chief author of Mandala 7 of the Rigveda. Vashishtha and his family are mentioned in Rigvedic verse other Rigvedic mandalas, and in many Vedic texts. His ideas have been influential and he was called the first sage of the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy by Adi Shankara.
Angira (Sanskrit: अङ्गिरा / áṅgira, pronounced [ɐ́ŋɡiɽɐ]) is a Vedic rishi (sage) of Hinduism. He is described in the Rigveda as a teacher of divine knowledge, a mediator between men and gods, as well as stated in other hymns to be the first of Agni-devas (fire gods).
Atri (Sanskrit: अत्रि) or Attri is a Vedic sage, who is credited with composing numerous hymns to Agni, Indra and other Vedic deities of Hinduism. Atri is one of the Saptarishi (seven great Vedic sages) in the Hindu tradition, and the one most mentioned in its scripture Rigveda. The fifth Mandala (Book 5) of Rigveda is called the Atri Mandala in his honour, and the eighty seven hymns in it are attributed to him and his descendants.
Pulastya (Sanskrit: पुलस्त्य) was one of the ten Prajapati or mind-born sons of Brahma, (Manas Putra) and one of the Saptarishis (Seven Great Sages Rishi) in the first Manvantara. Pulastya was born from the Karṇa (ear) of Brahmā. (Chapter 65, Ādi Parva and Bhāgavata). while other source states Pulastya (पुलस्त्य) was created as a Sādhaka (aspirant) by Brahmā out of his vital breath named Udāna, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.16.
Pulaha is the son of Brahma, the cosmic creator, and also one of the Saptarshi (Seven Great Sages Rishi), in the First Manvantara, with others being Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Kratu, Pulastya, and Vasishtha.
Kratu (Sanskrit: क्रतु) (Sanskrit for “strength”) was a rishi who appeared in two different ages. In the Swayanbhuva Manvantara, Kratu was a Prajapati and a very dear son of Lord Brahma. He was also the son-in-law of Prajapati Daksha.
Mythology and nomenclature apart, the Big Dipper is a valuable tool to finding your way across the skies. Merak and Dubhe are referred to as the Pointers since they point you to Polaris – the Pole star in the tail of the little dipper.
Enjoy it while it lasts – although it will outlast us. While five of these seven stars move together in space, Alkaid and Dubhe do not, In the coming millenia the DIpper will look nothing like it does today.