Arundhatë () (1994) is a Hindi epic poem (Mahakavya) composed by Jagadguru Rambhadracharya (1950âÂÂ) in the year 1994. It consists of 1279 verses in 15 cantos (sargas). The poem presents the narrative of the couple Arundhatë and Vasiá¹£á¹Âha which is found in various Hindu scriptures. As per the poet, the narration of the epic is directly related to the psychological evolution of humans. A copy of the epic was published in 1994 by the Shri Raghav Sahitya Prakashan Nidhi, Haridwar, Uttar Pradesh. The book was released by the then President of India, Shankar Dayal Sharma on July 7, 1994.
In the prologue of the work, the poet mentions why he chose Arundhatë as the subject of his first ever epic poem composed in Khadi Boli, the standard dialect of Hindi. He mentions that his reverence for Arundhatë is natural as he was born in a family of Vaà Âiá¹£á¹Âha Gotra. He found the character of Arundhatë â âÂÂwhich has invaluable elements of the Indian culture, society, righteousness, nation and Vedic philosophyâ â to be unblemished, inspiring and worthy of imitation. He further says that the practice of Agnihotra was substantially promoted and furthered by Arundhatë and Vasiá¹£á¹Âha only, and that along with the seven sages (the Saptará¹£i), only the wife of Vasiá¹£á¹Âha is worshipped, and no other seer's wife is accorded this honour.
Most of the narrative of the epic can be found in various Hindu scriptures. Some portions are the original compositions of the poet. The birth of Arundhatë is found in the à Âiva PurÃÂá¹Âa and à ÂrëmadbhÃÂgavata, but the epic describes the birth as per à ÂrëmadbhÃÂgavata. The instruction by Brahmàto Arundhatë is taken from the UttarakÃÂá¹Âá¸Âa of the Ramcharitmanas. The animosity between Vià ÂvÃÂmitra and Vasiá¹£á¹Âha is based on the BÃÂlakÃÂá¹Âá¸Âa of VÃÂlmëki's RÃÂmÃÂyaá¹Âa. The birth of à Âakti and ParÃÂà Âara is found in the MahÃÂbhÃÂrata and several BrÃÂhmaá¹Âa works. The final events in the epic are based on the narrative of Valmiki's RÃÂmÃÂyaá¹Âa, RÃÂmacaritamÃÂnasa and VinayapatrikÃÂ.
Arundhatë is the eighth daughter of á¹Âá¹£i Kardama and Devahà «ti, and is married to Vasiá¹£á¹Âha, the eighth son of BrahmÃÂ. Brahmàassures the couple that they will have the Darà Âana (sight) of RÃÂma. The couple spends many years waiting for RÃÂma. Vià Âvaratha, the son of the king GÃÂdhi, tries snatch celestial cow KÃÂmadhenu from Vasiá¹£á¹Âha, but is unable to stand against the Brahmadaá¹Âá¸Âa of Vasiá¹£á¹Âha. Vià Âvaratha undergoes penance and becomes the á¹Âá¹£i Vià ÂvÃÂmitra. The revengeful Vià ÂvÃÂmitra curses all hundred sons of Arundhatë and Vasiá¹£á¹Âha to die. The forgiveness of the couple gives rise to a son à Âakti, whom Vià ÂvÃÂmitra gets killed by a demon. Arundhatë and Vasiá¹£á¹Âha then head for VÃÂnaprastha ÃÂà Ârama, leaving their grandson ParÃÂà Âara to look after their hermitage. Brahmàordains them to re-enter GÃÂrhasthya ÃÂà Ârama, reassuring that they will have the Darà Âana of RÃÂma as a householder couple only. The couple starts living in an ÃÂà Ârama near AyodhyÃÂ. With the birth of RÃÂma, a son named Suyajña is born to them. RÃÂma and Suyajña study together in the ÃÂà Ârama of Arundhatë and Vasiá¹£á¹Âha. After the marriage of Sëtàand RÃÂma in MithilÃÂ, Arundhatë meets Sëtàfor the first time when the newly-wed couple arrives in AyodhyÃÂ. Sëtàand RÃÂma spend fourteen years in exile. When they return home, they have their first meal after the exile which is prepared by Arundhatë, and the epic ends thereafter.