Hanuman Mandir

Dr. Pidara frequently describes the value of telling the story of Savitri, especially on Savitri Poornima.  The following is taken from the June 2004 newsletter:

 

Savitri and Satyavan

"Once upon a time, in the kingdom of Madra, there was a king called Ashvapati.   He did not have any child, so he prayed to Devi Savitri, the very Energy of god Sun for 18 years.   One day the goddess was pleased and granted him the boon of having a daughter.   Within a short period after that the queen Malawi got pregnant and a daughter was born.   They named her Savitri in view of the prayers to Devi Savitri.   She grew up in no time, and once after her prayers visited her father in the royal court.   The father told her: "Dear daughter, so far no one has come forward to seek you in marriage and I have read in the holy books and have heard from the priests that the wise men do not consider three persons worthy of honour, and these three are: A son who does not take care of a widowed mother; a husband who does not grant a child to his wife, and a father who does not give his daughter away in marriage.   So you must go and search for a suitable person, then come and tell me and I shall you marry you off."

Savitri went in search of the boy and one day she returned.   At that time, her father was talking to sage Narada.    Seeing her of marriageable age, Narada asked the king: "How come she is not married yet." The king replied:   "Sir, ask her whom she has chosen as her would be husband."   Savitri said: "Father I have picked/selected Satyavan - the son of the blind king Dyumatsen, who has lost his kingdom and is now living in a forest."   Narada said: "King, this is no good."   The father asked the sage if there were any defects in her choice.   Narada said, "He has only one defect that he will die one year from today." Upon hearing that, the concerned father asked Savitri to pick another worthy boy.   But she said, "Father, only once a thing is broken and not twice; only once a daughter is given in marriage and not twice; and only once a thing is given as gift and you don't retract a gift and gift it away the second time.   My mind is made up to accept Satyavan as my husband and I am not going to change my heart and pick another person."  Upon that, Narada told the king, "Look, let her marry the boy. I will take care of the rest."

Soon the king went to the forest and after talking with and convincing Dyumatsen gave Savitri in marriage to Satyavan.   She gave up all her royal paraphernalia and lived as a forest woman, served her parent-in-laws and pleased her husband.   But she continued to count the days.   When only four days were left, she decided to observe a three day fast.   On the fourth day, the father-in-law said, "Daughter, now break your fast."   She said to him, "I will do so after the sun is set."   She gave gifts to the Brahmins and they blessed her to have an unending marital fortune.   Just at that time, her husband came there with an axe on his way to the forest to collect and fetch some wood for the kitchen and sacrificial fires.   She told her husband, "My lord, don't go alone today to the forest. I want to go with you. I don't feel like leaving you alone today."   Satyavan asked her to obtain permission from his father as he was blind.   The father-in-law told her, "You have never asked for anything in one year, so go and take care of your husband."   In the jungle while Satyavan was cutting the wood, because of scorching heat he came down and complained about a splitting headache.   Savitri placed the head of Satyavan on her thighs and counted the days and time.   Suddenly she noticed a divine personality and she got up and asked, "Sire, you are not an ordinary person.  Who are you?   Why have you come?"   Yama the God of Death said, "I am Yama and have come to fetch the soul of your husband."   She said, "How come, you came, instead of your messengers?" He said, "Your husband is a great soul.   My messengers could not do the job.   Now you go and cremate the body."

Savitri said, "0! The King of Moral Laws, it is the ancient law that where my husband is taken or he takes me, I must go there.   I have been prayerful, have served the elders, have loved my husband, have been committed to my husband, and by your grace and kindness I can go anywhere.   I have heard that one need to walk only one step with a good man and it leads to friendship, and because of this friendship with you now I say something to you.   Please listen.   All morality leads to liberation [moksha], and that can be observed in any of the four stages [that of a student, or a householder, or a forest-dweller, or a recluse /monk] of human life.   I want to achieve that liberation while staying as a householder.   So please don't block my path."   Yama said: "O! Beautiful girl, your words have no defect and are very logical.   So I grant you one boon but not the life of Satyavan."   She asked him to restore the eyesight and strength of her father-in-law.   Yama granted that and asked her to go back as she must be quite tired.

Savitri said: "I am not tired when I am in the company of my husband.   They say that to have the company of good people even once is the most desirable thing.   Good people become friends quickly and their company is always fruitful. That is why one must seek the company of good people and for this very reason I am in your company."   Yama said, "O! Princess, you can even enlighten the wisemen. You speak pleasing things to the heart.   Ask for one more thing except your husband."   Savitri said: "I want my father-in-law to get his lost kingdom back and he may remain fixed on moral road."   Yama said: "It is granted, but you must go back now otherwise you may have to suffer much hardship."

Savitri said: "Sir, you always lead everybody to the right path.   And you know well that the good people never cause suffering to anybody either by speech, or by action or by mind, they are always kind to all, and they give gifts to everybody.   That is their ancient custom and rule.   These people are even kind to their enemy, then how come you do not want to be kind to this helpless person like me."   Yama said, "O! Savitri, as a thirsty man is revived again after quenching thirst, so I am very much at peace.   O! Blessed faced girl, ask for anything except the life of Satyavan."   Savitri said that she wanted her father to have sons which may carry on his lineage.   Yama granted one hundred sons to her father and asked her to go back as she had traveled far.

Savitri said, "Sir, Nothing is too far for me.   My mind is racing further than that.   You are the son of God Sun and the most balanced person.   For you there is no distinction between a friend and an enemy. People don't trust themselves as much as they trust a good person.   That is why they seek friendship of a good person.   Friendship gives birth to faith and trust.   That is why they trust a good person.   With this trust in your goodness I speak to you."   Yama said, "O! Lovely girl, I never heard such words from anybody.   So I grant you another wish but not the life of Satyavan."  Savitri said, "O! The King of Morality, I want to have one hundred sons from Satyavan."   Yama granted her one hundred sons and reminded her to go back as she had come away too far.

Savitri said, "I know that among good people morality remains firm.   They never regret after giving their words.   That is why the company of good men is always fruitful.   Good people are never afraid of good people.   Because of their goodness even the sun gives us heat, earth does not shake, and past, present and future remain firm in their progression of time.   Good people never hurt a good man, and never want a return of their good deeds.   Their pleasure is always full of fulfillment.   They never dishonour anybody.   Poor man cannot give anything, rich man can give but does not honour, and bad person is never pleased.   But the good men are pleased, give gifts, and honour the recipient also.   That is why they are called the protectors."   Yama said, "Savitri, as you speak this way I am being won over by you.   So ask for anything."   Savitri said, "I don't want to have children from another man but from Satyavan, therefore you return Satyavan to me."   Yama granted her the wish and went back to his world.   Savitri returned with her husband to the hermitage and they all went back to the kingdom.   Whosoever reads or hears this tale gets all his or her desires fulfilled.   Our summarized tale ends here, and those who want to read its full version, they must look up Mahabharata v.2, pp.761-778, translated by J.A.B. Van Buitenen, published from the University of Chicago Press.