Word

Arundhutidarshananyaya

Sanskrit

अरुन्धतीदर्शनन्यायः

IAST

arundhutīdarśananyāyaḥ

In General

Arundhutidarshananyaya is a Sanskrit maxim used to infer ‘the unknown from that which is known’. The maxim is named after Arundhati as the faded star Arudhati is identified only after pointing the brighter star Vasistha.

The logic: Arriving at a conclusion by first identifying the accepted one and then inferring the unknown which come under the accepted or generalized one.

Showing the star Arundhathi to the bride after marriage is a popular custom in many parts of India. Since the star Arundhati is a very fainted one, the bride is first asked to look at the brighter star(Vasistha) next to it and then give direction to trace the star Arundhathi.