Savitri

Savitri serves as a model of an ideal wife with utmost devotion to her husband’s welfare. The story as told in the Mahabharata is that the princess Savitri marries Satyavan, a poor but devoted prince, known to carry his blind parents around. Satyavan is destined to die early, and so when the day of his death arrives, Yama, the god of death comes to claim his life. Savitri follows Yama relentlessly until, finally impressed by her devotion, he grants her a boon. She asks for Satyavan’s life and the sight of her in-laws to be restored. Her remarkable story of self-sacrifice embodies the deepest of Indian values.

In this European-inspired treatment of the subject—Yama has more than a passing resemblance to King Lear—we see the blue-bodied crowned god of death, robed in red robes and holding a great mace. He wears temple-sandals on his feet as he hovers on clouds. Behind his mighty form figures of the damned emerge from the shadows. In response to the selflessness of Savitri he gestures the granting of a boon with his lowered hand, so answering her pleas. She gazes up in thankfulness, still cradling the broken body of her husband on her lap.