Today is Karadayan Nombu..

Today is Karadayan Nombu..

A day signifying that the will of a woman could just achieve the impossible..

A day reminding us that a woman with sincere and abiding love for her husband could defy the rules of nature, defy the God of death, and could safeguard her husband's life at the face of the whole universe rearing to snatch that life away..

The story of Savitri.. may be it is true or it is just a piece of fiction.. but the spirit embodied in that story, the steadfastness of a woman, is worth remembering and emulating..

The fact that in spite of all the claims of modernity and claims of gender equality, almost all women eagerly pray for the welfare and longevity of their husbands.. the date and mode of celebrations might vary although..

Sure, to love someone with whole heart for a lifetime, is not a weakness by any reckoning..

It really takes a character to live up-to that level of fidelity and sincerity..

Pranams to the womanhood of our land on this happy day..

Sarva mangala maangalye shive Sarvaartha Saadhike

Sharanye tryambike devi Narayani Namostu te..

सर्वमङ्गल माङ्गल्ये शिवे सर्वार्थ साधिके

शरण्ये त्र्यंबिके देवी नारायणि नमोस्तु ते

Like Uma and Shankara, Like Lashmi and Narayana, may all bound by the sacred tie of marriage live in eternal togetherness..

May the universal father and mother bless us all..

नमः शिवाभ्यां नव यौवनाभ्यां परस्पराश्लिष्ट वपुर्धराभ्यां

नगेन्द्र कन्या वृषकेतनाभ्यां नमो नमः शंकर पार्वतीभ्यां

Pranams to the eternal couple,

our beloved parents Shankara and Parvathi..

who are ever in their pristine youth,

who exist in the blissful embrace of one another ( Ardhanaareeshvara),

the daughter of Himavan the king of mountains

and

the one who is having a bull in his flagstaff..

musings 52

We all know the Story of Satyvan and Savitri..
The story is about how Savitri underwent great austerities and saved her beloved husband Satyavan from the clutches of the death God,, Yama.. through her tact, erudition and perseverence..
The story unravels in the Vanaparva.. also called Aranya parava in the epic Mahabharatham .. and the chapters relating to the Savitri episode are called Pativrataamaahatmya Parva.. meaning --the saga of glory of the lady who existed for her husband.. in all chastity and sincerity..

The final boon requested of the Death God by Saviti .. which was finally granted too was

वरं वृणे जीवतु सत्यवानयं यथा मृताह्येवमहं पतिं विना ३-२९८-५३
न कामये भर्तृविनाकृता सुखम् न कामये भर्तृविनाकृता दिवम्
न कामयेभर्तृविनाकृता श्रियं नभर्तृहीना व्यवसामि जीवितुम्॥ ३-२९८-५४
महाभारते आरण्यपर्वणि पतिव्रतामाहात्म्यपर्वणि॥
varaṁ vṛṇe jīvatu satyavānayaṁ yathā mṛtāhyevamahaṁ patiṁ vinā 3-298-53
na kāmaye bhartṛvinākṛtā sukham na kāmaye bhartṛvinākṛtādivam
na kāmayebhartṛvinākṛtā śriyaṁ nabhartṛhīnā vyavasāmi jīvitum|| 3-298-54
mahābhārate āraṇyaparvaṇi pativratāmāhātmyaparvaṇi||

Oh Lord of death, I seek the following boon from you.. May my husband Satyvan be restored to life..
I am as good as dead if I am deprived of my beloved husband
I do not want any material comforts to be enjoyed if Iam deprived of the live company of my husband
I do not want even heaven with all its greatness if Iam deprived of the live company of my husband
I do not want any wealth if Iam deprived of the live company of my husband
And
I do not propose to live if my husband is taken away from me..

Of course, the utter faithfulness and deep affection carried the day..