These chapters tell the story of Sandhyā, the first female born in the universe, who later because Arundhatī, the wife of Vasiṣṭha, one of the seven sages (saptaṛṣi). The name Arundhatī in Sanskrit literally means 'washed from the rays of sun', from arun 'sun rays', and dhatī , 'washed'. She is the grandmother of Parāśara and the great-grandmother of Vyāsa. Śiva Purāṇa describes her as Sandhyā, the mind-born daughter of Brahmā. On instruction of Vasiṣṭha, Sandhyā pleased Śiva by penance in order to purify herself from passion. She was then born as Medhātithi's daughter and married Vasiṣṭha. Arundhatī is identified with the star Alcor, which forms a double star with Mizar (identified as Vasiṣṭha Mahaṛṣi) in Ursa Major.