Somavara Vrata Mahima

Siddhamuni continued the narrative of the Guru Charitra to Namdharak as under.  Savitri's heart was overflowing with gratitude and devotion towards Guru Nath who gave her back her husband, by restoring his life. The husband looked quite hale and hearty and with no trace of his former disease at all. Savitri now prayed to Guru Nath to give her Mantropadesa, which would protect them (herself and her husband) against all turmoils of life in this world and also give them a safe passage to life beyond and liberate them for ever. Guru Nath told her that for a woman, no mantra is needed. It is only Patiseva (devotion and service done to the husband) that is needed for a woman and that this alone would safely ferry her across the ocean of Samsara to the Heavenly shores beyond. For woman the mantra is not as efficacious as Patiseva. Further, a mantra needs strict nista (disciplines and austerities), secrecy etc. A mantra cannot be given to any and everybody. It requires some merit on the part of the recipient. That was what happened in the case of the Sanjeevani Mantra of Sukracharya, the Perceptor of the Asuras (the demons). Sri Narasimha Saraswati explained it further as follows. Once a war was raging between the Dewas and the Asuras, Sukracharya alone knew the Sanjeevani Mantra, the chanting of which would revive the dead back to life instantly. Because of the power and protection of the Sanjeevani Mantra, the Asuras could remain invincible and the Devas, as they had no resource to and no protection of the Mantra, were being routed in that battle. The Devas had to flee away, utterly defeated and battered.  The Devas then went to Kailash and narrated to Lord Shiva their woe and perilous condition and prayed to Him to rescue them from the devastating onslaught of the Asuras against them. Shiva sent Nandi to fetch Sukracharya. When the latter was brought, Shiva gulped him into his mouth. Sukracharya stayed for some days in the stomach of Lord Shiva, but one day managed to come out when Shiva was lost in His Samadhi. He reached back to the kingdom of Asuras safe and the Asuras were again emboldened that their preceptor's full protection was restored to them. They became again a great menace and terror to the Devas. Devas then hatched out a plan. The preceptor of the Devas, sage Brihaspati had a son named Kacha. Kacha was sent to Sukracharya to be his disciple under him. Sukracharya accepted him as his student because of his veneration for Brihaspati. Sukracharya's daughter Devayani caught a fascination and liking for Kacha. Twice the Asuras caught hold of Kacha secretly and killed him. At Devayani's pleading, Sukracharya, by the power of his Sanjeevani Mantra, revived him and brought him back to life. When the Asuras opportunity to catch hold of Kacha secretly, they did not want the body to be left after staying him, because Sukracharya might again bring him back to life. Therefore this time, they burnt the slain body to ashes, mixed the ashes in wine which they surreptitiously made Sukracharya to drink. As Kacha did not return home in the night, Devayani expressed her anxiety to Sukracharya about the safety of Kacha. Sukracharya saw through his DivyaDrishti (i.e., through his Yogic vision) that the ashes of kacha were in his stomach and this he told to Devayani. he told her that this time he would not be able to bring him back to life. If he were to try to bring him back to life, as Kacha would have to come out of his (Sukracharya's) stomach, he (Sukracharya) himself would be dying in the process. Therefore he would not be able to save him this time. But Devayani pleaded if he would teach her the Sanjeevani Mantra and in the process of reviving Kacha if Sukracharya were to die, she would chant the Mantra and revive him (Sukracharya) also back to life. At her persistent pleading, he taught her the Mantra. As he was uttering the mantra, Kacha heard it from within his stomach of his Guru and memerised it. Kacha was saved. Sukracharya was revived back to life. Later Devayani pleaded to Kacha that he should marry her. But Kacha pleaded that it would be sacrilege to do so; they were like sister and brother to each other. Firstly, she was his Guru's daughter; further, having emerged out from the vitals of Sukracharya by the result of the Mantra, he had also become a child of Sukracharya. Furthermore, she had revived him back to life, she was like a mother to him. Therefore, he said the marriage was unthinkable between them. Saying thus, he left from there and went back to his Father.  The Sanjeevani Mantra however, had lost it's potency for good, having been given to a woman who did not merit the Mantra, and further having lost it's secrecy, because of being overheard by another (ie by Kacha) besides the one it was intended to (ie to Devayani) at that time.  As Sri Narasimha Saraswati dissuaded the woman Savitri, thus from being desirous of taking Mantra, the woman pleaded she be taught some Vrata (vow), which would be beneficial as a Mantra. Sri Narasimha Saraswati told her about the Somwar Shiva Vrata. He narrated to her one ancedote to illustrate the beneficial effects of this Vrata. Once upon a time, in the olden days, there lived a king by the name of Chitravarma in Aryavrata. He was in the line of the great Nala. He was a great devotee of Lord Shiva. He had no children for a long time. At last a daughter was born to him. She was named Simantini. The king consulted his court astrologers about the future of the princess. They all said she would grow into a very virtuous girl and would have a long life, but at the age of fourteen itself, she was likely to become a widow. The King's and Queen's hearts were filled with gloom and sorrow at the prospect of their daughter's child-widowhood.  The princess reached the age of seven years. The King started searching for a suitable alliance for her. Meanwhile, Simantini learnt the Somwar Shiva-Vrata from Maitryayani, which is believed to confer mangalya and auspiciousness to women. From that very young age she started performing this Vrata. She was thereafter married to a young Prince by name Chitrangada, the son of king Indrasena. The marriage was celebrated in all regal pomp.  One day Prince Chitrangada went to swim in the river Kalindi along with his friends. There were also his guards attending upon him. The prince was swimming in the stream with his friends. He was suddenly caught in a whirpool in the mid-stream and sank down. The guards tried to search for him and save him, but to no avail. Simantini said to her father and mother that she would throw herself in the stream and die and join her husband in the other world at least. Her grief was inconsolable. She was all fury against Shiva, as inspite of her devout and strict observance of the Somwar - Vrata, he had not protected her at all. She was being dissuaded by all from doing Sahagamana, because Sastras did not approve of Sahagamana for a woman without the dead body of the husband by the side. To add to the misfortune, as the king and the people were steeped in sorrow at the prince's death, one enemy king attacked the kingdom of Indrasena and defeated the latter. 'Misfortunes never come alone but come in chain' - is the old saying. So it was the case with regard to Indrasena who lost his son as well as his Kingdom. Chitrangada, when he was caught in a whirlpool, sank down to the depths of the river. The damsels of Nagaloka sighted him and rescued him and took him to their Kingdom in the neither world. It was the kingdom of Takshaka, the great Serpent King. The Naga-Kanyas sprinkled Amrit (celestial nectar) over the body of Chitrangada who was lifeless. The Amrit revived him instantly. He was taken to the King "Takshaka' who received him very kindly. Takshaka was happy to learn that Chitrangada was in line of descent from the famed king Nala, who happened to be a dear friend of his in olden times. Takshaka was very hospitable to him .The prince was looked after very well. The prince saw everywhere in the Nagaloka richest treasures, pearls and diamonds piled up. Takshaka's city was most beautiful. After sometime, Chitrangada asked Takshaka to permit him to go back to his father. Takshaka gave him a very warm and loving send-off, sent a Naga-Prince for escort and also gave him many precious and handsome gifts. The prince and the Naga-prince who escorted him, emerged out of the waters of the mid-stream. They swam to the bank. Just at that time Simantini came over to the river for the bath before her Vrata as it happened to be Somvar (Monday). Although God deemed to have let her down, still she wanted to continue the Vrata.  The prince recognised her as Simantini, the princess wedded to him. Her face was clouded with grief. He enquired of her, who she was and why she looked so much grief-stricken. Although he had close resemblance to her dead husband, she did not take to be her husband, as though that her husband was lost forever. The maids waiting on the Princess narrated to him all about her misfortune, and how she lost her husband whom she loved so dearly. The stranger (the prince) said that he knew Chitraganda very well and that the latter was quite safe and would return to her soon. After saying thus, the prince, along with the Naga-prince, went to his father's kingdom. Already by that time the enemy king was thrown back and Indrasena got his Kingdom back. The king was delighted at his son's safe return. he sent messengers immediately to ChitraVarma to inform him of the happy turn of events and of his son's safe return and that he, along with his son was coming over there, to his kingdom. The joy of Simantini knew no bounds. Her faith in Lord Shiva and the merits of Somvar Vrata were thus vindicated and she had got back her lost husband.  Sri Narasimha Saraswati thus impressed on Savitri the Mahima of Somvar Shiva Vrata. He told her that she should observe the Vrata all through her life, and this Vrata meant worship of himself (Sri Narasimha Saraswati) only.  Savitri and her husband then offered elaborate worship to Guru Nath, performed Samardhana and with blessings of Guru Nath returned to their home place, Mahur. The parents of the young man were overwhelmed with joy at the safe return of their son and daughter-in-law and to see their son restored completely to good health. Their hearts overflowed with gratitude towards Guru Nath for the Divine Mercy which he had showered on the family. Thus ends the Thirty Fifth chapter of Sri Guru Charitra describing 'Simantini Aakhyan'.  Glory to the All merciful, the Omnipresent and the ever responsive Guru Nath! There is a Higher power than Destiny. "mad Bhaktah Napranasyati - My devotee never perishes" is the eternal assurance of the Lord. But the Lord also knows what is good and what is appropriate for His devotees and He has His own way of dispensation of His Grace. Leaving it all to His will and Mercy, let us surrender unto Him....