Reviving to Life the dead husband of the young woman.

Reviving to Life the dead husband of the young woman.

Siddhamuni continued the narrative.  'The Tapasvi' described to Savitri all the duties that pertain to women in their family life. He also described the duties that pertain to them after one losing the husband. He said that a woman who has lost her husband will have to adjust herself to the new situation. In grief, in olden times women used to enter the funeral pyre along with the husband's body, which is called as Sati or Sahagamana. They believed that life with a husband is a continuous companionship, not only in this world but in this life beyond as well. It is both a worldly companionship as well as, or actually even much more, a spiritual companionship between wife and husband. A Pativrata who mounted the funeral pyre along with her husband's body certainly attains liberation. But it should be totally voluntary and a subjective act taken in wholeheartedly. It is not a matter to be forced upon the woman, but based on her conviction and her own volition and choice.  There are exemptions or exceptions provided for, regarding Sahagamana. A woman carrying, i.e., woman with child in womb, a nursing mother, i.e., one who has an infant child, are forbidden to take Sahagamana. If a widow chooses to live the widowed life as per Sastraic injunctions and tradition, she need not take to Sahagamana. If she lives a pure and austere life during her widowhood, she will earn as much merit as she would have got through Sahagamana. The disciplines to be observed by a widow as per Sastraic injunctions or tradition were described by 'The Tapasvi'. She should be without head-tress (hair). She should take meal only once a day. She should observe Chandrayan Vrata, i.e., taking increasing and decreasing mouthfuls of food as per Kalas (phases) of the moon. She should thus restrict her food and should give up comforts of life to whatever extent possible and take to austere habits. She should occasionally go on pilgrimage to holy places. She should herself perform Tarpan (food and water offerings to the soul of the departed husband) if she is without a son. She should observe Vaisakh, Magh, Kartika Maas bathing. She should offer in charity to Brahmins Ghritdan (ghee), Jalkumbh-dan (tumbler), Deep-dan (lamp), food, clothes, fruits, etc., in the name of her husband. She should discard bangles and wear white saree. When her husband was alive she was, so to say, the sole mistress of the house (household), but after the loss of her husband, she has to take only a subordinate position. She should abstain from demanding too much and from exercising her authority. She has to, more or less, abide by the will of her son, who of course should always revere and love her as a dutiful son and respect her wishes always. The woman surrenders and transfers her responsibilities of the household to her son and daughter-in-law. She has to devote more and more time in the memory of her husband and contemplation of God. In the above way, Sage Brishaspati narrated all the PatiVrata Achara dharmas to the Rishis and Gods who had assembled at Agastyashram. An d now 'the Tapasvi' (Sri Narasimha Saraswati) in disguise recounted the same to the woman who has now lost her husband, and who sought advice and guidance as to the duties and mode of life for the woman, in her different stages of her life. 'Thus Tapasvi', tried to console and comfort her in her bereavement and was advising her to pick up courage to face the irretrievable situation and pursue her duties as ordained for women, but ever remembering the transitoriness of all life, and the solicitude of 'the Tapasvi. for her ultimate welfare. She expressed to him that her mind was much pacified, and she profusely thanked him for dispelling her ignorance and freeing her from the meshes of illusion of the mundane life. She told him that he was her all, mother, father and God. She however said in a determined and resolute manner that she had chosen to do Sahagamana along with the body of her husband. 'The Tapasvi' gave her Bhasma (sacred ash) and told her to besmear her husband's ears and body, before it was consigned to the flames. She should also perform Maharudra Abhishek before the cremation, he said, telling her that she should go to the Sangam and seek blessings of Guru Nath there before the final ceremony , he walked away.  The woman got all preparations done for the funeral and her Sahagamana. She invited the priests and asked them to start the funeral sacraments with the chant of the prescribed Mantras. She took her bath, adorned herself with all her ornaments and the bright red kum kum mark on her forehead. She took the dead near the river, carrying also the fire in her hand.  All the men and women of Gangapur gathered there , hearing of the sad event. They were all moved to tears, because the woman was so young, hardly sixteen years of age, and so beautiful. They were trying to persuade her not to do the Sahagamana, saying that it was not proper, they said, for a young girl of her age. She was almost a child still. But the woman adamantly stuck to her resolve. She got the firewood piled up. She called the Suvasinis there and gave away whatever she had. She requested them to bless her, and further send word to her in-laws that her husband and herself were doing very well at Gangapur, and that none should let them know the truth as it would break their hearts. When she was about to mount the funeral pyre, she remembered suddenly the instructions of 'The Tapasvi', she tied the Rudrakshas given by him, two to the earlobes, and two on the chest of her husband's body. She applied the Bhasma on his forehead. Then she rushed to the Sangama to seek Guru Nath's blessings before taking to Sahagamana, as previously advised by 'The Tapasvi'. The woman approached the Sangam and saw Guru Nath seated under the Audumbar Tree. She fell prostrate at his feet. The blessed she would soon be the Mother of two children - 'Suputra Praptirastu' - thus he blessed her. The people who accompanied her told Guru Nath that she had lost her husband, and she had come to seek blessings for her Sahagamana along with her husband's body. Shri Narasimha Saraswati told then to bring the dead body to him at the Sangam. The body was brought. Just at that time four Brahmins came there to offer their worship to Sri Narasimha Saraswati. Guru Nath asked the Brahmins to sprinkle his 'Charan teertha', on the dead body. This was done, and Lo! the dead body rose to life as if from sleep. The revived man noticed his wife whose face lit up with wonder and joy at seeing the unbelievable, and asked her how they happened to be there. The woman told all that had happened, how Guru Nath retrived him from the realm of death and restored to her the Mangalya and thus protected the lives of both of them. Both of them fell at Guru Nath's feet and bathed them with their tears, tears welling out from the innermost depth of their hearts. Thus ends the Thirty Second chapter of Shri Guru Charitra describing how "Faith triumphed over death with Guru Nath's Grace." Glory to the All merciful, the Omnipresent and the ever responsive Guru Nath.