Vashistha, was the most legendary of all the eminent sages of India. Having conquered all his anger he became matchless in sacrifice and scriptures. He was the royal priest of the Surya dynasty to which Rama was born. When Ravana captured him for not teaching him the Vedas, the sage cursed him saying that someone from this dynasty would kill him.  Vashistha's cow was the divine Kamdhenu, which became the cause for Vashistha and Vishwamitra's rivalry when the latter tried to take it away. Even Vishwamitra had to bow down before this great ascetic's authority. Vashistha was born thrice and in all the births Arundhati became his wife. He later became a 'saptarishi,' one of the seven revered sages who transformed into the constellation of seven stars called Ursa Major.