The Vat Savitri Vrata

Majestic and Mystic: Vat Vriksha (Banyan tree) under whose shade the Satyavan rested while Yamraj arrived to claim him.

Last Monday was the BadMavas or Vat Savitri Amavasya.
Another opportunity for Married Indian women to oblige their husbands and show their dedication to them.

Not strangely enough, When I first listened to Savitri's Story, I found her to be another liberated, strong-willed and powerful woman from our ancient society who, I believe would fall in same category as Draupadi and Damayanti. She was far from being the meek and submissive house-wife. She was beautiful, intelligent and headstrong. In trying times, she trusted her instinct and intelligence rather than rely on self-pity.

Throughout her life, Savitri had intellectual conflicts with the men who had the potential to change the course of her life. She challenged them but with grace and respect.

She was the only child of a well known king and she was born after much praying and penance. She grew up to be so beautiful and knowledgeable than the no prince would ask her hand in marriage, considering her to be way above their league and fearing rejection. She sought permission from her father to look out for her groom by herself. An act which was definitely not the usual norm.
During her search, she came across Satyavan, the prince in exile. He was handsome, generous and of strong character. He lived in a modest cottage with his parents. Satyavan's blind father was once a powerful king but had lost his kingdom. Savitri choose Satyavan as her groom and informed her father. The thought of the tough life she would have to live with Satyavan in the forest did not deter her. Further more, Sage Narada informed her father of Satyavan's purported short life and who then requests Savitri to reconsider her decision but she stood determined. 

Satrivi and Satyavan were married with their parents blessings. Despite being a princess, Savitri takes to daily households chores and takes good care of her in laws. Not once does she her regret her decision of choosing a hard life.
She is deeply in love with her husband and her outlook helps create an aura of love and harmony.  

Three days before her interaction with Yamraj, Savitri takes a vow of vigil and fasting. Her penances had made instincts developed enough to foresee the danger to her husband. Savitri sought permission from her father-in-law to follow Satyavan in the deep woods. Her father-in-law was wary of her unprecedented request. It was not safe for lady to be in the forest. However, she was cogent and true to her resolve. Her father-in-law relented after much persuasion. 

Savitri followed her husband into the forest. After a while Satyavan felt weak. He laid down his head in Savitri's lap and rested a little under a Vat tree. Savitri saw a dark shadow approach Satyavan, It was Yamraj, the death God. Savitri does not let Yamraj leave with Satyavan's soul. She follows Yamraj. Yamraj tries to convince Savitri to turn back since her "time" has not come yet. The strong-willed Savitri does not turn back. 

She in turn, praises Yamraj for his sense of duty and judgement, uses verse from Vedas and demonstrates her knowledge of scriptures and her intellect. Yamraj is impressed and asks her to seek boons from him, anything except Satyavan's life. Savitri uses her presence of mind and makes good use of the use of the opportunity by asking Yamraj for brothers for herself (sons for her father, who could carry on her father's legacy). She got the boon but she did not stop there. She was a woman on the verge of losing her beloved but she maintained her calm. She had read scriptures and knew that in such circumstances she could ask for not one but three boons. 

She continued following Yamraj. Yamraj asked her to stop following him and said that she could have another boon. Anything other than her husband's life.
This time around Savitri asks Yamraj to restore her father-in-law's eyesight and his lost kingdom. Yamraj promises her and proceeds on his way. Savitri does not stop. Its the time for the third and final boon. It was Savitri's last chance. To ask for fourth boon would have been inappropriate. She asked Yamraj to grant her a son. And Yamraj in his eagerness to complete his current task and to dissuade the woman from following him granted her the boon with little forethought. Savitri coolly states to Yamraj that he cannot take her husband away because then it would be a violation of his promise. She cannot have a son without her husband. Yamraj was impressed and gave in. He blessed Satyavan with a long life. And they lived happily ever after.

To think, Savitri was far more liberated than the women of our times. Liberation does not mean spending precious time comparing and contrasting the two sexes and frowning about it. But liberation is to believe in oneself and to take the liberty to make your own decisions and stand by it. Satrivi was a very confident women. When no one come up to ask for hand in marriage, she did not get dejected or demoralized but took on to herself to search for a suitable husband. 

She choose Satyavan because she valued virtues over riches. She could have chosen a rich prince and spent her life in comforts but she did not. She did not deter from her decision even after knowing about her husband's supposedly short life span. She stood by her choice. Not once post marriage did she complain about living in penury but counted each day as a blessing. 
Most importantly, she did not lose heart during the trying times. She maintained her calm and relied on her intellect rather than ask for pity. Neither was she self centered, for she got boons not only for herself but for her family. 

I usually am bad with making decisions. I have hard time with them. I either let someone else decide for me (usually my hubby) or I keep postponing the decision making to the point in time when I am left with no options but one. However, the Vat Savitri story inspires me. Its not only about love between husband and wife but about self-belief.