Women in Tamil Nadu observe the ‘Kāradayān Nonbu’ at the exact time when the Sun transits from the Kumbha to Meena constellations (the starting of the month of Māsi as per Solar calendar). This happens during Mid-March. Prayers are offered to Kāmākshi Devi for the welfare of one’s husband (in case of married women) and to get  a suitable husband (in case of unmarried girls).

For the same reason, fasting and worship of a banyan tree, which goes by the name Vat Sāvitri Vrat is celebrated later in the year by people in Northern part of Bharat. Interestingly it is on Amavasya (new moon) in summer parts of the country and Purnima (full moon) in other places.

These are done remembering a great woman by name Sāvitri, who, in ancient times retrieved the life of her husband from Yama, the Deity of death. This story is mentioned in the Vana Parva of Mahābhārata when Rishi Mārkandeya consoles Yudhishtira by narrating this story, when the latter frets over Draupadi’s sufferings in the jungle.

Long long ago, the kingdom of Madra was ruled by a king named Ashvapati. He was a very wise and noble king. He ruled with a great sense of justice and therefore was loved by all his subjects. His kingdom was prosperous and citizens healthy and happy and what more could a king want? But he yearned for something – a child, to succeed him on his throne.

With the guidance of his Kulaguru, King Ashvapati along with his wife Mālavi, started propitiating Devi Gāyathri by doing Yagnas for many years continuously, praying for a worthy son to succeed him. At the end of about eighteen years, one morning Devi Gāyathri appeared in person from the flames of the Yagna in front of the King and his wife. Ashvapati and Mālavi paid their obeisance to the Devi  and Devi  Gāyathri spoke. “I am pleased by your prayer O King!’ said she. “I grant your wish with a daughter who will be praiseworthy and bring you name and fame”.

The King wholeheartedly accepted the boon of the Devi and in course of time, Queen Mālavi gave birth to a daughter who they named ‘Sāvitri’ in honour of Devi Gāyathri.

Sāvitri was the most delightful child any parent could have had. With her intelligence and beauty, she charmed everyone. Learning all the Shāstras and arts, she grew up to be a beautiful maiden and came of marriageable age. Ashvapati  started looking for a suitable groom. However nobody he met was a match for her or so he thought.

One day he called her and said, “Dear daughter, I have not been successful in finding the right groom for you. You may tour around the  country and find the right person yourself after which I shall conduct your wedding as per the scriptures”.

Savitri agreed and toured the various parts of Bhārata. She found a prince who was extremely virtuous. He was living in the forests with his parents –King Dyumatsena who was blind and his queen Shaivya. The prince was Satyavān.

Dyumatsena, the erstwhile king of Shalva had become blind after his son Satyavān was born. Taking advantage of this weakness, some enemies had attacked their kingdom and driven away the king, queen and their infant son to the forest. The royal family had been living there since.

Sāvitri was fully convinced that Satyavān was the best suitor for her and came back to tell her parents about her choice.

When she came to meet her father, Devarishi Nārada had come there on a visit and was conversing with King Ashvapati. When Sāvitri told her father that she had made her choice, the king was overjoyed and asked her whom she had chosen and on hearing the details from her, the King was extremely happy.

However Rishi Nārada who also heard the name of the suitor, was not happy. He said, “O King! Sāvitri has made an excellent choice, but it is better to drop this alliance and search for someone else”.  The king and Sāvitri were puzzled and asked him the reason.

Rishi Nārada said, “Prince Satyavān is energetic, intelligent, brave, handsome and generous. He always speaks the truth and is a perfect match to your beautiful daughter. But, he is destined to die exactly one year from today and that is the reason for my unhappiness”. The king, on hearing this felt very sad and told Sāvitri to forget Satyavān and look for another person. But Sāvitri had made up her mind and would not budge. Rishi Nārada thought for a while and finally blessed Sāvitri wholeheartedly and told King Ashvapati to go ahead with the alliance.

The king then approached King Dyumatsena and his wife who were indeed happy at the prospect of Savitri being their daughter-in-law. The marriage was performed in a grand manner and Sāvitri left her palace to go and live in the hermitage of her in-laws, in the forest.

Life went on peacefully for the rest of the family while Sāvitri carefully kept count of the fateful day which Rishi Nārada had mentioned about. Three days before the destined day, Savitri started fasting and propitiating Mā Kātyāyani (Durga). She would not sleep, sit, eat or drink anything. She kept awake for all the three days standing, continuously praying all the while. Her in-laws were worried about her health and told her not to undertake such harsh vows. Sāvitri just smiled in reply and continued her penance.

On the destined day, Satyavān was getting ready to go and collect firewood. Sāvitri requested him to take her along. Satyavān was pleasantly surprised and puzzled for Sāvitri had never ever asked anything for herself in all these days after her wedding. Satyavān tried to dissuade her. “The forest is a difficult place to walk Sāvitri” he said. “You will be bored and tired especially since you have not had food and water all these days”. But Sāvitri persisted in her demand. Her father-in-law also chipped in. “Poor girl! She has never asked anything for herself till now. After all she just wants to come with you. Take her along, Satyavān” he said. Though Sāvitri was smiling, she was feeling miserable in her heart.

Satyavān agreed and took her along. After they went into the jungle, Satyavān chopped small branches and twigs from the trees while Sāvitri kept a watchful eye on him, standing there. After sometime, Satyavān started feeling uneasy. He was sweating and seemed to have a severe head-ache. A sudden weakness was felt all over his limbs and he dropped his axe. His throat seemed parched and lips dry. He came to Sāvitri and said, “Sāvitri, I feel as if my head is being pierced by spikes. I want to rest for some time. I think some sleep will do me good”.

Sāvitri sat on the ground under the tree and Satyavān rested his head on her lap and closed his eyes. In a few minutes, Satyavān’s body seemed limp and without energy. The lustre of his face was waning.

Sāvitri  was praying  continuously with grief choking her throat. Suddenly she realized there was a figure near her. As she looked up, she saw a dark figure, dressed in yellow garment, wearing a crown, who she recognized as a deity. He had red eyes and held  a noose in one hand and a mace in the other. He was seated on a buffalo.

Sāvitri looked at Him. Placing her husband’s head gently on the ground, she stood up. Joining her palms in obeisance, said in a soft voice, “By your divine appearance, I perceive you to be a Deva. Pray may I know who you are and what is the purpose of your appearing here?”

The form replied, “I am Yamadeva, the Deity of Death. Satyavān’s time on this earth is over, and as he was a virtuous being, I have come in person to take his Ātmā with me.” Saying so, Yamadeva threw the noose at the direction of Satyavān’s  body. Savitri saw a soul of her husband as a thumb-sized figure coming out of his dead body and attach itself to the noose which Yama pulled towards himself. Satyavān’s body had now lost its lustre completely.

Holding the soul in the knot of the noose, Yamadeva started moving away on His buffalo.

What did Sāvitri do next?

We shall see that in the next post.