Kamasutra 2.10.9 and a question of astronomy

[Valerie J Roebuck]

It's a mistake, but the confusion arises because she and the Pleiades 
(kRttikA) were the wives of the  7 RSis. The other 6 were banished to 
the far side of the sky for a lapse in chastity involving Agni 
(disguised as their husbands). ArundhatI saw through his disguise and 
remained faithful, which is why she's still beside her husband in the 
Great Bear.

For someone with very good eyesight (and clear skies) the Pleiades 
group is shaped rather like a miniature version of the Seven 
RSis/Great Bear/Big Dipper. I wonder whether this is how the myth 
arose?

For just about everything else you might want to know about the Seven 
RSis and their families, see:

Mitchiner, J. E. Traditions of the Seven RSis.  Delhi: Motilal 
Banarsidass, 1982.

Valerie J Roebuck

At 12:08 pm +0200 11/7/07, Lars Martin Fosse wrote:

>....
>Could any of you explain to me why Mylius and Doniger translate ArundhatI
>with the Pleiades? I assume that there must be a reason, but it escapes me.
>
>Lars Martin Fosse