After the Saptapadi (Seven steps), newly married couples in India go outside to see the Vasishtha-Arundhati star pair of the Sapta Rishi (Alcor & Mizar of the Ursa Major) in the night sky. Of all the star pairs in the sky, one wonders what is so special about this one. Interestingly, modern science tells us that one star doesn’t orbit around the other. Instead, Alcor & Mizar are a binary star system and the pair capture the essence of dampatyam (marital relationship) where they both orbit around their center of mass and no one star is more important than the other. One can’t help but wonder if the ancients knew this.

The Sanskrit text on the art mentions the 3 promises to each other made by the couple right after the Saptapadi:

Sakhyam Te Gameyam
(Let me deserve and embrace your friendship)

Sakhyat Te Mayosham
(May my friendship make me one with you)

Sakhyanme Mayoshtaha
(May your friendship make you one with me)