When Shravana set out on pilgrimage with his parents it was a very auspicious hour. King Dashratha, Sage Vashishtha, noblemen, courtiers and people had gathered to see off Shravana on his holy journey.
King Dashratha said, “Son Shravana Kumar, with dedication take your parents on pilgrimage. Our good wishes are with you. We will pray for your success. Entire Ayodhya and the kingdom will pray for you. You may ask for any help from us like chariots, horses, elephants, palanquins, soldiers, servants, expenses anything that is permissible. You may ask for anything you need, noble Shravana.”
“Honourable King! You are like my father and I respect you like one,” spoke Shravana politely and added, “Your wish is a command for me but presently I don’t need any help as it may prove detrimental to my mission. I only need your blessings and good wishes. Pray for my success.”
“Don’t hesitate to ask for anything you need even in the course of your journey. Rest assured that we will be praying for you,” Dashratha promised.
“Sir, in this journey my arms are the soldiers, the hands are servants, determination is my chariot, commitment is elephant, will power is my horse, my mission is the charioteer and my body is the asset to take me forward.”
King Dashratha nodded his head in approval.
Sage Vashishtha said, “Just as Lord Shiva is supreme amongst deities, Ganga is amongst rivers, Kailasha is amongst mountains, lotus is amongst flowers similarly Shravana Kumar is amongst worthy sons.”
After doing some charity and taking pledge Shravana Kumar set out on his mission. To see the incredible devotional act of Shravana there were in spirit present—Sages, Valmiki, Bhardwaj, Gautam, Agastya, Vishwamitra, Parshurama etc. great many souls. From the skies watched Lord Ganesha, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, Indra, Kubera, Varuna and many other celestial entities. They all blessed Shravana spiritually.
After setting out Shravana first reached in pilgrim centre of Prayag with his parents. At the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati the trio took holy dips and worshipped. The priest performed rituals on their behalf and got rewarded. From Prayag the pilgrims went to the holy city of Kashi, the spiritual abode of Lord Shiva. After the rituals of dips and worships Shravana carried his parents to holy Badrinath in Himalayas.
Meanwhile, Vidya left behind alone at home was pining for her husband. Her pain was intolerable. She could not stay holed up at home crying. She set out in search of her husband and family. Vidya had no idea where Shravana and her in-laws could be at that time. It was just a blind search. She lamented, “O my master! In your absence a moment is felt like an age. I am like a fish out of water, a serpent which has lost its gem or like an elephant without tusks. Without you my life has lost all meaning.”
“O lord of my heart, I am tired out looking for you. I don’t know which direction to take to find you. I will collect wood to prepare a pyre and immolate my body dedicating it to you witnessed by Sun, Moon and other deities.”
In a desperate and despairing mood Vidya collected dry wood and piled the pieces into a pyre shape. Then she invoked the fire god Agni, “O wood, in you is fire in inherent form. Release it and flame up. I want deliverance from the unbearable pain of separation from my master. Consume my body in your holy fire.”
The fire did not appear.
Then Vidya invoked, “O Agni! I know you are in the wood in dormant form. Take pity on me and manifest yourself.”
Agni did not answer her prayer.
Vidya prayed to a heap of pebbles to produce fire to light up the pyre. The pebbles also did not oblige her and produced no spark.
The pile of wood remained unlit.
Desperate Vidya invoked several other deities and prayed to provide her fire to light up the pyre. No deity answered her prayer. All appeared to have turned a deaf ear to her.
At last she invoked her own marital piety, “O my master! You are symbol of my truthful marital relationship. In that sense I have worshipped you. You are my love. You must help. If you too do not oblige like others I will be forced to take my life. There is no other way or option left before me.”
Then, Vidya invoked, “O Lord! If I have been true to my husband by mind, word and deed, I invoke power of that piety to force fire to manifest itself in this pyre of wood.”
With eyes closed she prayed on and after a while a flame started to flicker inside the pyre. Then the fire god Agni materialised.
He spoke, “God bless you child. You are a truthful woman of a noble youngman and the daughter-in-law of the sage couple. Why do you want to commit the sin of suicide?”
Vidya opened her eyes and saw a glimmering figure projected out of the pyre. She understood she was beholding the fire god.
She prayed, “O Agnideva! I make obeisance to you. I wished to immolate myself because I can’t live without my husband. For a married woman absence of her husband is the cruelest experience. It is a great tragedy. Can you imagine a tree without birds, faith without truth, eyes without vision and a wife without her man?”
“On a very noble mission your husband is. He is safe and sound with his parents on pilgrimage. Very soon he will come back to you. Bear with the period of the separation with fortitude. You will live happily ever after.”
“Oh no!” Vidya cried pining for her man.
“Try to understand, Agnideva. It is the pain of people in flesh, bones and blood. A woman can’t live without her man like there can not be a flame without heat and a day without light. Lord, if you want to save my life get me to my master somehow or I will die like a fish out of water.”
“You are a remarkable woman. We are pleased to see your dedication and love for your master. How can you imagine Shiva without Parvati, Vishnu without Laxmi, Brahma without Saraswati and similarly Vidya without Shravana! We will use our divine power and help you reach to your dear husband Shravana Kumar.”
Agni raised his hand to bless. And in a flash Vidya was flying in the sky soaring high.
Agni went back to his unmanifest form.
Through the air route Vidya reached where her family was camping in the course of the pilgrimage. Shravana and his parents were at the pilgrim centre of Badrinath.
Vidya touched the feet of her in-laws and husband. The family was amazed to find Vidya there. To them she revealed the entire story of the manifestation of the fire god and his blessing. Shravana and his parents were pleased to hear her story.
At getting united with her husband the joy of Vidya knew no bounds. Her piety being confirmed Vidya was now a bit egoful. She too had achieved something on her own and was no more an ordinary wife. In her mind she would repeat the words spoken by Agni in praise of her dedication, true love and piety. Everytime she did that his chest swelled with pride.
That was the period when Badrinath region was icy cold as the winter was approaching. Often snow storms swept the area. The water bodies had begun to freeze.
“Son Shravana!” Shantavana called out.
“Yes father!”
“Son, we have done the worshipping. I think the sacred cold water of this place can do good to our eyes. We wish to wash them. A bit gummy they are feeling.”
“I will get the water father,” responded Shravana.
“Only the running water in liquid form. So, I must do a little looking around.”
“Master!” Vidya spoke proudly, “Why should you bring water while I am around? Order me and I will bring water in a jiffy. I can fly.”
Shravana shook his head. “No Vidya, It is very cold out there and you are not wearing any woollens. It is a different country here.”
“Yes, my child. You must not go,” Gyanwati too said, “Let Shravana bring the water. We are now getting used to the cold.”
“Maa, don’t worry about me,” Vidya insisted, “I will fetch the water. The cold will do no harm to me because I am blessed by fire god.”
“Don’t insist Vidya. You are still unfamiliar with the terrain here. Only the power of flying won’t help. Weather is getting bad,” said Shravana.
“No one worry about me. I’ll fetch water.” Vidya picked up a pitcher and prepared to go.
Vidya was exulting because it was the opportunity for her to demonstrate her extra-ordinary powers gained from the fire god Agni. She was almost feeling like a super woman for whom nothing was impossible. And she flew out.
Even at the last moment Shravana and his parents tried to stop Vidya from going out in the freezing cold and inclement weather. After her departure the three sat in silence praying for her safety as she was wrapped in only a cotton saree. Suddenly they heard a feminine cry which sounded like that of Vidya.
Out there the icy cold wind had hit Vidya, she felt her body freezed. She invoked Agni but this time no help came. Blizzard was coming at her and the snow was flying around her adding layers on her. In those conditions her flying power was not working. She realised she was going to die.
She was sorry for not paying heed to the advice of her husband and in-laws. She had acted arrogantly and was paying the price for it. The snow had pulled her down to ground entombing her. Very soon Vidya had got buried under tons of snow that appeared like a giant white tomb.
By the time Shravana waded through snow to her Vidya was already dead and buried. There was nothing Shravana could do but pay homage.
The accidental demise of Vidya saddened the family. Shravana felt sorry for her. The old folks lamented and cried. Such tragedy occuring during a pilgrimage was no good sign. It could be harbinger of more tragedies.
