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Karadayan Nonbu or Savitri Vratham
Karadayan Nonbu or Savitri Vratham is a traditional festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu where married women pray for the wellness and long life of their husbands. This Nonbu should be done exactly in the time when Tamil month ‘Masi’ ends and the next month ‘Panguni’ starts.
Karadayan Nonbu – Story Behind
Sathyavan -Savitri Story is the main reason we celebrate Karadayan Nonbu. Long ago, there lived a king called Ashtapathi. He had a daughter named Savitri. The king had told his daughter that she has the freedom to choose her husband. One day Savithri was walking in a forest and she saw a young man carrying a shaft with 2 baskets. She noticed that his parents were seated in those baskets. Both his parents were blind and so the young man (Satyavan) was carrying them. Savitri got impressed by this devotion to his parents and so she decided to marry him. She told about her wish to her father.
King Ashtapathi wanted to fulfill the wishes of his daughter and so he enquired Sage Narad about the boy. Narad said that Satyavan was also a prince and the son of the blind king named Dyumatsena but his family was driven out by the enemies after their kingdom was captured. Moreover, the sage Narad also looked into the horoscope of the boy (Satyavan) and cautioned that this boy would not live more than a year as per the horoscope. After hearing this the king tried to convince his daughter not to marry that guy. But Savitri was strong in her mind that she would marry only Satyavan. King Ashtapati had to yield to her request with no other way and the marriage happened.
After marriage, Savitri left her palace and went off to the forest and lived a life of perfect obedience and respect to her new in-laws and husband. Though she lived happily with Satyavan, Savitri was aware that the death of Satyavan was approaching soon. Three days before the predicted death day (the day when the month of Masi would end and the month of Panguni would begin) of Satyavan, Savitri started to observe strict Vrats and was engaged in ardent prayers. As predicted, on a destined day, Lord Yama arrived to take away the life of Satyavan. Satyavan fell dead on her lap. Savitri stubbornly made efforts to follow Lord Yama who is taking away the soul of Satyavan. Finally, Lord Yama was pleased by her continuous efforts, arguments and the ardent Vrat that she was observing, He decided to grant her 3 boons.
Savitri was so intelligent that she decided to avail this opportunity to save her husband’s life. She asked 3 boons
- Get back the eyesight and the kingdom of her father-in-law(Dyumatsena)
- Bless her father (Ashtapathi) with a son and
- Bless her with honest and righteous sons through Satyavan.
In order to fulfill the third boon, Yama had to leave Satyavan back to life. From then onwards, Savitri has always been idolized as the ideal woman who used her intelligence and prayers to win back the life and riches of her husband. Her love, divinity, and determination have always been the inspiring element for women of India. She selected a noble young man as her husband, knowing that he had only a year to live and married him with all confidence. Even the God of Death, Yama had to surrender and bowed to her love and devotion.
Karadayan Nonbu is celebrated in Tamilnadu in remembrance of this incident and in honor of Savitri.
“Urugadha Vennayam Oru Adayum Vaithu Nonbu Notren Oru Naalum En Kanavar Piriyamal Iruka Vendum“
“உருகாத வெண்ணெயும், ஓர் அடையும் நோற்று உனக்கு நான் வைத்தேன், எந்நாளும் என் கணவர் எனை விட்டு நீங்காத அருள் தருவாய்”
The above mantra should be chanted by married women while tying up the sacred yellow rope in the neck. Even the young girls of more than one-year-old should tie up these ropes to get the blessings of God.
Sathyavan-Savitri – Shrine in honor
Though we don’t have any separate temple in favor of Savitri – The Pathi Vrata, we do have a separate shrine for her in Kali Ghat Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal. This temple is one of the Shakti Peeta located in the city of Kalighat.
It is one of the dwelling places of a fierce manifestation of the goddess, known as Dakshina Kalika (“south-facing”). The temple has its own historical importance and significances.
In the temple, we have separate shrine depicting the mythological couple Savitri and Satyavan. Married women offer bright red Kumkum to these idols and pray for the longevity and well-being of their husbands. They also offer the traditional bangles on the idol signifying the marriage. After offering kumkum and bangles to these idols, they also take small pinches of the red powder (kumkum) to adorn their forehead (hair parting).
