12/06/2021
Vatasavitri Vrat
Remember how the term ‘Sati-Savitri’ is used in a derogatory way by woke feminists to feminize Hindu women❓ Well, the real Savitri was a strong icon of womanhood, which is why she is remembered even today.
Today is Vatasavitri Vrat, a very special festival celebrated by married women in many parts of India to commemorate the legend of Savitri, the lady who argued with Yamaraj, the God of death to wrest the life of her husband Satyawan back from him.
I find Savitri a truly empowered woman, she was a princess, but she chose to marry Satyawan who was a poor man who lived in a jungle with his exiled parents. She married Satyawan against her parents wishes, even though it was foretold that he would have a short life, because he was a learned man, a good man.
The story as narrated in the VanParva of the Mahabharat goes that Savitri was the daughter of the sonless king of Madra, Ashwapati. He and his wife prayed to the sun god for a child, and when they got a baby girl, they named her Savitri, in his honour.
Savitri is educated in all arts and knowledge systems and so accomplished is she in everything, her father cannot find a suitable groom for her. So she takes matters in her own hands and sets out on a pilgrimage to find a groom for herself. She meets Satyavan, the son of a blind king named Dyumatsena of Shalwa Kingdom, who is in exile, and lives in penury in a forest. Savitri is impressed by Satyavan’s learning in spirituality and nature and returns to tell her father that she has Satyavan.
At this point, Sage Narada reveals that though Satyavan is a good groom and perfect in every way, he is destined to die in exactly one year. Savitri chooses to marry him even after knowing this, despite her father Ashwapati’s objection.
Savitri and Satyavan are married, and she goes to live in the forest, to share her husband’s exile, leaving behind her life as the princess of Madra.
Three days before the predicted death of Satyavan, Savitri takes a vow of fasting and vigil. Her father-in-law tries to dissuade her but Savitri replies that she has taken an oath to perform these austerities to increase her spiritual power to save Satyavan.
when Yama comes to claim Satyawan’s soul, Savitri follows him. The journey is arduous, but she does not give up. When Yama tried to convince her to turn back, she didn’t turn away crying, she argues with Yama on the tenets of Dharma.
Impressed with her intellect and tenacity, Yama offers her a boon, telling Savitri to ask for anything except the life of Satyavan. She asks for her blind father-in-law to get his eyesight and his kingdom back. Yama grants that and asks her to turn back. She keeps following.
Yama offers her another boon, again asking her to choose anything except Satyawan’s life. This time she asks for her parents to have more children. Yama asks her to turn back again, she kept following, singing Yama’s praises as a dispenser of justice. Yama again grants her a boon. This time she asks for herself to be a mother of Satyawan’s children. Yama grants this wish, thereby indirectly agreeing to give Satyawan’s life back.
Savitri is no doormat. She is intelligent enough to argue with Yama and persistent enough to not give up. She outwits the one who knows Dharma.
She takes charge of her own life. She makes her own decisions.
सर्वम शिवमयम⭕☯️☠️🔱🚩
