Author’s note to Savitri
The
legend of Savitri and Satyavan features in the
Mahabharatas depicting the victory
of conjugal love over
death. This is nothing but symbolic of the Vedic cycle.
Soul bearing the
divine truth is Satyavan. It falls into
the twin grip of death and ignorance. Savitri on the other
hand is the Divine word, the daughter of the Sun (Savita).
Savitri is the goddess of the Supreme Truth who comes down
to this Earth to save us.
Other roles in the legend are those of Aswapati, the Lord
of the House, her human father who is also the Lord of
Tapasya- the concentrated energy of spiritual exercise that
lifts humanity to
immortal planes. Dyumatsena, Lord of the
shinning hosts, father of Satyavan is the Divine Mind
fallen blind here.
In spite of all these the story is not a mere allegory.
Beyond that the characters are humans, who can be felt
readily and even touched. They don human robes to help us
show the way. The way that leads us to a divine
consciousness and immortal life.