Savitri

savitri unveiled

Savitri (Conquest of Death)

In this poem, “Savitri” (Conquest of Death), the story of Savitri is retold not as mere mythology, but as a living allegory—a mirror to the human condition. Here, the narrative unfolds with the sweep of an epic and the intimacy of a whispered secret, inviting the reader to traverse landscapes both external and internal: the sylvan beauty of the forest, the sombre stillness of Death’s domain, and the luminous realms of the spirit, where love reigns supreme. Savitri, the princess of Madra, defies fate with her staunch will and love for Satyavan, a man fated to die within a year of their union. Through her eloquence and spiritual strength, she confronts Yama, the Lord of Death, challenging the ultimate adversary and emerging victorious—not through might, but through wisdom, compassion, and the sheer force of her devotion. Savitri's story serves as a metaphor for modern women's empowerment. It encourages advocacy for rights, where women stand firm in their beliefs and fight for justice. Leadership, using intellect and diplomacy to navigate and lead in complex situations. Breaking Stereotypes, challenging societal norms and exercising personal agency. Her narrative transcends its mythological origins, resonating with contemporary efforts to celebrate and empower women in all walks of life.

Savitri – The Golden Bridge, the Wonderful Fire

Almost all of the essays collected in this volume were written for and first published as monthly instalments in Next Future, the e-journal of the Sri Aurobindo Society Pondicherry. The 47 instalments ended with the passing of Dr. Nadkarni in September 2007, and cover Savitri Book by Book, Canto by Canto, from the beginning up to the climactic point in the middle of Book Eleven, where Savitri is offered four boons of merger with the Supreme, and asks instead for the Supreme Peace, Oneness, Energy and Bliss ‘for Earth and Men’. Dr. Nadkarni has written other essays on Savitri as well as giving many other talks, but this collection represents a masterly ‘Introduction’ (as he modestly called it) to the revelatory poem which he loved so much and understood so well. It has been compiled and published at the request of his family, and we feel sure that it will be welcomed by Savitri readers and students all over the world, and to a certain extent make up for the great loss that his many admirers experienced when he passed away in September 2007 at the age of 74.