Following Through Hell And Heaven

The earliest known rendition of Savitri and Satyavan's tale is found in the Mahabharata's Vana Parva. The story was written in the epic Mahabharata as a narrative delivered by sage Markandeya. When Yudhishthira asked Markandeya if he has ever met a woman with the dedication of Draupadi, Markandeya answered with this tale.

Savitri and Satyavana: A tale of love and determination; Image Source: Katha Kids

The legend of Savitri and Satyavan is one of the most popular stories in Hindu mythology and has been retold by many different storytellers. It is generally accepted that this story was written around 1,500-1,000 BCE and could be a ritualistic piece of folklore created by people who wanted to demonstrate their faith in the existence of Krishna. It illustrates devotion, patience and self-sacrifice on a grand scale. As a result, the tale has been retold hundreds of times at various levels of narrative complexity, from simple folktales to classic novels.

The story's most famous and widely known version is found in Vana Parva (Second Book) from the epic Mahabharata. The story refers to multiple periods in the life of Savitri and her husband Satyavan, who were both equally known for their great heart and kind acts. In Hinduism, Savitri and Satyavan are a mythical couple noted for Savitri's love and loyalty to her husband Satyavan. According to mythology, Princess Savitri married a banished prince named Satyavan, who'd been foretold to die young. The final section of the mythology centers on Savitri's intellect and devotion, which rescued her spouse from the God of Death, Yama.

The tale of Savitri and Satyavan starts in the Madra Kingdom. The king of Madra remained childless for a very long time. He and his wife, Malavika, worshiped God Savitr and prayed for a child. Savitr was impressed by them and granted them a boon according to which Malavika would soon bear a child. The king was overjoyed at the thought of having a kid. In reverence to God, the girl child born was named Savitri. Savitri is thus the product of dedication and asceticism, attributes she would emulate later in her life.

As Savitri grew up, her piousness and beauty attracted everyone around her. However, no one asked for her hand in marriage. Thus, her father decided that she would have to find a husband for herself. Savitri set out on a journey to find the love of her life and came across Satyavan, the son of a former king, Dyumatsena. Though Dyumatsena was a noble and wealthy king, he lost all his wealth and eyesight. Savitri went home and told her father about Satyavan and her wish to marry him.

Just then Sage Narada arrived and said that it would be a wrong choice for Savitri to marry Satyavan as he is destined to die within one year of their marriage. Though Savitri's father was unconvinced, she was adamant about marrying Satyavan. Eventually, Savitri and Satyavan married, and she moved to the jungle, lived as a hermit, and dwelled in complete obedience and reverence to her new in-laws and spouse.

Everything was fine until one day when everyone realized that just three days were left with Satyavan before death consumed him. Savitri decided to observe a strict fast during those three days. Her father-in-law was also worried that her daughter-in-law had taken stringent measures, which might harm her health. Savitri however convinced him that all these actions were necessary for her husband's life. Dyumatsena was happy to see how dedicated she was to Satyavan.

Savitri requested permission from her father-in-law to join her husband as he went into the woods on the day of his expected death.

Dyumatsena fulfilled her desire because she had never asked for anything throughout her year at the hermitage. As the couple found their way into the forest, Savitri admired Satyavan as he cut wood with his axe. Suddenly everything changed when he fainted and put his head on Savitri's lap. She knew that the time had finally come when he would have to face the horrors of death. But she wouldn't let him face it alone.

Helpers and servants of Yama, the God of Death, came to take Satyavan's soul, but they were unsuccessful because of Savitri's strength and purity. Seeing this, Yama himself came to claim the soul. But Savitri was too determined to let Satyavan go, and she followed Yama to heaven. On their way, Savitri kept speaking about various topics like dharma, friendship and Yama and his rule. Impressed by her speech, Yama grants her three boons but also puts an exception that she wouldn't be able to ask for her husband's life.

Savitri was pretty clever and asked Yama for the following three wishes: her father-in-law's eyesight should be restored, their kingdom should be returned, and she would mother a hundred sons. Lord Yama was in a dilemma as the last wish wouldn't be fulfilled without Satyavan returning to life. Impressed by Savitri's dedication, Yama offered her yet another chance to ask for a boon; this time, he didn't keep any exceptions. Without another thought, Savitri asked for Satyavan's life. Yama thus gave Satyavan life and rewarded both of them with a longer lifespan.

Even today in Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha, Savitri’s dedication is honoured by married women, who observe Savitri Brata on the Amavasya day (new moon) to ward off any bad luck from their husbands' lives and ensure that they lead happy lives with them always. Savitri is said to have reclaimed her spouse during the first day of the Tamil month of Panguni. In Tamil Nadu, this day is known as Karadayan Nonbu. On this occasion, people perform poojas and other religious rituals to bless their loved ones and wish them a happy life together.

This tale of deep love and resolution has inspired artists and authors from times immemorial. True to this, Sri Aurobindo released "Savitri: A Legend and a Symbol" in blank verse in 1950 and 1951. Based on this narrative, Gustav Holst wrote Savitri, a one-act chamber opera in England. There are many legends about Savitri and her marriage to Satyavana. But the essence of all these is the undying devotion that Savitri embodied and the many challenges she faced in order to protect her husband from death at Yama's hands.