Vata Savitri Pooja (Vth and Concluding Part)

The divine entity replied, “I punish all living organisms according to their Karma. I am Lord Yama. O all-powerful Savitri, your husband’s life is over. My servants cannot take him away because of your powers. So, I have come personally to do that work.”

Thus saying, He used His lasso to forcefully bring out the thumb-sized soul of Satyavan. Post this; He began to walk toward Yamapuri, which is served by pitrus. Ordinary people cannot walk this path, easily. But, Savitri was powerful and began following Lord Yama. Lord Yama found that because Savitri was powerful, she did not show any tiredness.

He said, “You have been following me for some time. Now, go back. O, Doe-eyed Savitri, no living organism can come to Yamapuri in the living condition.”

Savitri replied, “I won’t feel shameful or guilty to be with a Divine Person like you. I am just following my husband. The support of good people is good people themselves. Nobody else. Similarly, married ladies are supported by only their husbands. Brahmins are supported by the Vedas. Students are supported by their teachers. On this earth, there is a place for all living organisms. But, the only place that married women have is with their husbands.”

Lord Yama was impressed by Savitri’s beautiful and meaningful utterances filled with Dharma. He told Savitri, “O, Good woman, I am pleased with you. Let good come to you. You can ask me 3 boons.”

Savitri bowed her head with humility and said, “My first boon would be eyesight and kingdom for my father-in-law and mother-in-law. My second boon would be 100 sons for my father. Third would be 100 sons for me.”

He happily said, “Granted.”

Savitri requested Him to return her husband because she would not be able to beget her 100 sons without him. Savitri was chaste and faithful to her husband. Lord Yama was shocked at the cleverness of the lady standing in front of him and returned her husband to her.

Savitri returned to the ashram with her husband. She performed Vata Savitri Pooja on that day, which was Jyeshta Poornima. After that, she attained all the boons that she had asked Lord Yama. According to another version, when Satyavan got up from Savitri’s lap, he said that he saw the above as a dream. Savitri told him that it really happened.

With this ends the mythological story. But, I have something to share with our readers, having a Botany background. One of my professors Manohar M Moghe Sir told us that Satyavan had suffered a sunstroke and Savitri brought him to shade under the banyan tree for him to recover! We do not know what really happened. We have to accept both the versions. 🙂