Indian Astronomy has been flourishing for ages. It finds its roots in 4th-century BCE and is known to have been influenced by the Greek Astronomical Culture. During the period of the great mathematician-astronomer Aryabhatta, 5th-6th century, Indian Astronomy experienced a revolution. This revolution was further carried out by astronomers like Brahmagupta, Varahamihara, Bhaskara, and many more. It greatly influenced the European, Chinese as well as Islamic astronomical cultures. 

In Indian mythology, the worlds are supported by the gods Varuna and Mitra. The antiquity of Varuna and Mitra goes back at least to circa 1400 BCE, where their names appear on an inscription of the gods of Mitanni in northern Mesopotamia. Varuna made the sun, established the morning and evening, the movement of the moon, the stars to shine at night, and regulates the months of the year. Varuna and Mitra are greatly concerned with the waters of the atmosphere and they make the rainfall. The constellations in Hindu Mythology draw inspiration from these.

The constellations in Hindu Mythology are called nakshatras. There are 27 nakshatras—each constellation occupying 13.33 degrees. The Indian naksatras (constellations) had yogataras (junction stars). Each naksatra was named after the most prominent visible star (called yogatara or junction star) contained within its range. All were situated in the zodiac. Indian Astronomy is closely related to Hindu Astrology. Ancient Hindu astrology is based upon constellations, and this is why it is so precise. Unlike western astrology, which is based upon the rotation of the sun and signs, Hindu astrology has its foundation on the rotation of planets in the constellations, including the Moon. Nine planets rule these 27 constellations, and the Dasha (the planetary periods) of the planets is fixed in the Indian Dasha System called the Vimshottari Dasha. These Dashas are based on the assumption that the average lifespan of humans is 120 years (or Vimshottari in Sanskrit).

 The constellation Ursa Major is generally known in India as the sapta-rishis (= the Seven Sages ). These Seven Sages have an important place in Indian literature and thought, and the many traditions of the Seven Sages derive primarily from the Sanskrit tradition. They have been identified with the seven ('dipper') stars of Ursa Major for circa 2000. A passage in the Satapatha Brāhmana (thought to be composed circa 8th-century BCE) states that the sages in the sky were known as the rksas or seven Bears in earlier times. In the Rig Veda and the Brāhmana, they were also known as the Seven Oxen. The Pleiades (called Krittikas) were the wives of the Seven Sages (but in one Rig Veda hymn, the Krittikas are male). Arundhati - the wife of the Rishi Vasistha - is identified with Alcor, the faint star close beside ζ Ursa Major. Vasistha - husband of Arundhati - is identified with the star ζ Ursa Major.

Since we are talking about Hindu Mythology, let me tell you a lesser-known story on the most distinguished constellation in the night sky, Orion.  Orion is a hunter waiting on top of a tree waiting for a hunt when he sees a beautiful dear. As he aims his arrow at the deer, the deer pleads with him that while she is a legitimate catch of the hunter, she has a small baby at home, and the deer would be grateful if he gave the dear a chance to meet its baby one last time before its death. The hunter lets her go, not expecting her to return. However, while sitting on the tree, unwittingly he keeps taking leaves from the Bilva tree and dropping them on the ground where there is a small Shiva Linga. The bilva leaves are particularly precious to Shiva, who is pleased with this worship. The deer, however, keeps its word and returns to die on the arrow of the hunter. Touched by this scene of valor, decency, and commitment to honesty, Shiva transfers them to the heavens as Orion and Taurus.