The legends dates back to a story in the age of Mahabharata. The childless king Asvapati and his consort Malavi wish to have a son. They take guidance from the Rajaguru, and are asked to perform a Yajna for several years. Finally, the God Savitri appears and tells him he will soon have a daughter. The king is overjoyed at the prospect of a child. She is born and named Savitri in honor of the god.
She grows up as a beautiful and pure lady. In Her young age, Her parents search for a suitable groom, an intense yogic in character. No boy is found suitable for Her. She takes permission from Her parents, for leaving the royal life and living in forest, where She proposed to find the suitable consort. Her parents agree and bless Her deeply. She sets out on a pilgrimage for this purpose and ventures into a dense forest. She finds a colossal Banyan Tree in the heart of the forest. She considers it as Her site of meditation and penance. She lived their happily, collected wild fruits and nuts for Her survival.
During those days, a royal couple, blind by eyes with their son, were sent on exile, losing their kingdom in a battle. They were living in the same forest, where Savitri meditated. Their son, Satyavaan used to go deeper into the forest, collected firewood and food for His parents. Savitri returns to find her father speaking with Sage Narada who tells her She has made a bad choice; although perfect in every way, Satyavaan is destined to die one year from that day. Savitri insists on going ahead, proclaiming Herself to be a princess belonging to Arya dynasty, and marries Satyavan. A large congregation assembled in the marriage ceremony.
Both of them lived a live devoid of sensuality. She used to go to the deeper forest with Her consort, and helped Him in all the chores. In the hermitage, She served Her in-laws as Her parents. And, at night, She performed intense penance and prayers.
Three days before the foreseen death of Satyavaan, Savitri takes a vow of fasting and vigil. The morning of Satyavaan’s predicted death, he was splitting wood and suddenly became weak and came down off the tree. He laid his head in Savitri’s lap and She starts chanting the Name of Narayana. Savitri placed his body under the shade of a Vat (Banyan) tree. Yama, the God of Death, came to claim Satyavaan’s soul. Savitri followed him as he carries the soul away. Yama, impressed by Her feats, offered her any boon. She asked Him to render the Eternal eye sight and the gross one to Her in-laws. The in-laws achieve the eye sight, and became capable of seeing the fate of their son and daughter-in-law, before Yama.
She continued following Yama and Satyavaan. Yama was puzzled. He asked Her for another wish, as he wished to send Her back on the earth. She asked him to restore the kingdom for her father-in-law. Still She continued trailing the chariot. Third boon was asked. She asked him to bless Her with long married life, and being mother of hundred children. The boon was granted. She said that as She was Aryaputri, She couldn’t marry anyone else, except living with Satyavaan. Perplexed Yama had no choice and he endowed the blessings of life to Satyavaan.
Satyavaan awakened as though he had been in a deep sleep and returned to his parents along with his wife. And, they lived happily ever after.
Now, let us see the spiritual interpretation of the story.
The Banyan Tree (Vat) is not an external asset, to be worshipped. But, the Vat Vriksha is within us. The ritual of tying the saffron thread along the circumference is worthless, until we perform the upvaasa by heart. According to Sanskrit etymology, Up- means “in proximity” and -vaasa means “living”, to live in close proximity to the Self is Upvaasa. Superficial fasting, and consuming crores of calories, under the veil of penance is a sin. These rituals cannot make a married woman attain the siddhis or rather save someone’s life. Understanding the Self and following the path of Brahmcharya (can be superficially understood by the phrase- lust free life) can render us the Siddhis.
If we introspect ourselves at this moment, we cannot bring our dead kins back from the grave. When we lose our beloved, we have no choice except accepting the moment. But, once we practice deep penance and live a sacred life, we can bring people to life. These incidents were common in previous yugas (eras). But, the person who bestows life to someone else, has to bear the sufferings of the person-who-died. This is not easy.
People might think that She went against the laws of nature, bringing Satyavaan back to life. But, once we attain Self-realization, the will of nature lies in congruency with that of the person concerned. She was no longer a ordinary lady, but the Light of Nature itself.
These siddhis are not worth pondering upon, but the Element needs attention. Otherwise, It shall force us to peep within, irrespective of our wishes. We can do it willfully or wait for the Will to use Its Will.