The Legend of Savitri

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Savitri- Satyavan's story occurs in Vana Parva of Mahabhaata when one of the rishis (I forget who exactly, perhaps Dhaumya) narrates her story to the Pandavas and Draupadi.

The story below is taken from both -the Mahabharataand Sri Aurobindo's masterpiece Savitri

The king of Madra, Ashwapati, who was childless for a long time, performed severe penance and pleased Gayatri Devi (I mean the Goddess, not the Maharani of Jodhpur 😊) The Goddess Gayatri gave him a boon saying that a daughter would be born to him who will be her ansh.

Accordingly, when a daughter is born to Ashwapati, he named her Savitri ( derivative of Savita- another name for the Sun God). Naturally, being an embodiment of the Sun Goddess, she grew up into a flaming beauty, with razor sharp intellect and blessed with all virtues.

No suitor from the nearby kingdoms dared to claim her hand for she simply surpassed all of them. She didn't want a nincompoop for a husband and no one matched her in looks, wisdom or courage.

Ashwapati asked to go into the wide world and choose her own husband. Accordingly she sets out in her royal chariot. Her travels take to different lands and different people. But then the wheels of destiny direct her chariot to a specific place...on the outskirts of the kingdom of Shalwa.

(cont'd)

Edited by varaali - 12 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

On the edges of a dense forest she spies a young man, handsome and strong. He shone like the moon amidst stars in the night sky. This is how Satyavan is described by Sri Aurobindo :

So he appeared against the forest verge...

...His figure led the splendour of the morn.
Noble and clear as the broad peaceful heavens
A tablet of young wisdom was his brow;
Freedom's imperious beauty curved his limbs,
The joy of life was on his open face.
His look was a wide daybreak of the gods,
His head was a youthful Rishi's touched with light,
His body was a lover's and a king's.
In the magnificent dawning of his force
Built like a moving statue of delight
He illumined the border of the forest page.

Immediately feeling attracted towards him, she asks him about his parentage. He reveals that he is Satyavan,the son of King Dyumatsena who not only has lost his kingdom, but now his sight as well. In short, he is the son of a blind and exiled king - nothing that would attract the royal princess of Madra. Satyavan reveals that the forest has been his home for many years.

A long conversation follows along with it the inevitable. Savitri falls in love with him. Satyavan warns her that after having spent her life in a palace, she will not be able to cope with the rigours of the forest life, but Savitri is not to be dissuaded. SAtyavan, on his part is more than happy to accept Savitri as his wife. Plucking the wild flowers that grew in abundance she weaves a garland and placed it around his neck - thus sealing the bond between them.

Promising to join him very soon, after informing her father, she touches his feet and takes leave of him.

(con'd)

Edited by varaali - 12 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

When she reached her parental home, it was a different Savitri. When she had started on her journey, it was with her head held high . Now when she returned, it was with her head bowed, as a bashful and shy bride. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement and her face shone with the happiness of having found her true love.

The divine sage Narada was in deep conversation with her father and mother and no one could fail to notice the difference. Ashwapati inquired whether her mission had been successful.

Savitri replied that deep in the forests bordering the kingdom of Shalwa, lived the blind and exiled king Dyumatsena. She had chosen his son Satyavan as her husband.

The queen Savitri's mother heard only one word. "Forests?" she gasped

The king, Ashwapti also heard only one word. "Exiled?"

Narada too, heard only one word. "Satyavan?" he wondered.

Strange indeed were the workings of fate.

The queesn asked Narda whether the union wold be a happy one?

Narada made the stunning revealation that Satyavan had only one more year to live.

The queen begged Savitri to go out once more and choose once again. What happiness would she find being in the forests, destined to be a widow in a year's time.

SAvitri replied calmly (In Sri Aurobindo's words)

Once my heart chose and chooses not again.

Death's grip can break our bodies, not our souls;
If death take him, I too know how to die.
Let Fate do with me what she will or can;
I am stronger than death and greater than my fate;
My love shall outlast the world,

Fate's law may change, but not my spirit's will...

Edited by varaali - 12 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

Bowing to their daughter's wishes, Ashwapati and his queen escort Savitri to the forests. This time Satyavan and his parents are there to receive them. Entrusting Savitri to Satyavan with due ceremony, Ashwapati and his queen take leave.

According to the Mahabharata, when one year was about to elapse, Savitri began her tri- ratri vow, fasting and penancing for three continuous days under a banyan tree.

The third day was supposed to be Satyavan's last day on earth. But because of the strength of her penance and fasting, the messengers of Yama could not suck Satyavan's life out of his Body. Even Yama himself came but Savitir's steadfastness compelled Yama to release Satyavan from his clutches and instead grant him a long life.

Savitri's mission was succesfsful.

In Sri Aurobindo's version, Savitri follows her husband's soul and engages Yama is a lengthy debate on the purpose and necessity of Death being the only certainity. Savitri by the strength of her will power challenges Yama's supremacy over the lives of people and compels Yama to release Satyavan's soul back to earth. It is not possible to surmise the entire debate between Savitri and Death (because of its deep philosophical content) in a few lines.

Edited by varaali - 12 years ago

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varaali

@varaali

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 12 years ago

There are other silly versions in which Yama asks her to seek three boons in exchange for Satyavan's life.

As one of the boon, Satyavan asks to be the mother of Satyavan's children. Yama says yes but then realizes that he will have to let go of Satyavan to make his boon come true.

IMO, this is trivializing Savitri's penance and journey. I squirm whenever this silly point of Yama being fooled is given importance during the recitation of Savitri's story.

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mnx12

@mnx12

Channel Moderator

+ 16

Posted: 12 years ago

varaali, I was going to wite about Aurobindo's Savitri last night, but was tired. It's a wonderful book, one of my teacher in A class used to always recomend us to read. He used to say, the Vata-Saviti vrat on Amavsya should be actually done, as it has lots of hidden energy like Aurobindo's Savitri. the Spiritual Vata-Savitri is on Amavsya & the one followed popularly is on Purnima.