Reading Guide: Women of Mahabharata Part B

The first story is about Uttara. She is the daughter of King Birat, who helped the Pandavas whenever they were exiled. Arjun said that Uttara would be a good wife for his son, so she was sent to his son Abhimanyu. She spent her time playing with dolls and the Pandavas adored her. The Pandavas asked for some land on Indraprastha, but Durjodhan said they must fight for it. A war broke out and Utara just played with her dolls. Abhimanyu goes to lead in battle and she tells him that she had a dream that he would die in battle calling her name. She begs him not to go, but he says he can't out of a sense of duty. Abhimanyu dies in battle calling her name when the Kurus shoot him with their arrows. The news reaches Utara and she faints. She asks Krishna to join her husband in heaven. Abhimanyu's death seems to be a large turning point in her life since she doesn't play with her dolls anymore. She spends hours in prayer. After 5 months, she has a son named Parikshit. In her depression, she struggles to care for him and continues to grieve her husband's death. However, Krishna asks her to care for her son. She cares for her son, but still grieves her husband.

The second story is about Sati. She learns the art of yoga from Mahadeva. As a child, she is in awe of Siva and when she gets older, she wishes to marry him. Her father refuses since he is the beggar god in his eyes. However, she still married Siva. She lives in Kailash with him and they live happily in the woods. Her father has a huge party/yagna and out of pettiness, he doesn't invite her because he is still angry that she married Siva. Her sisters persuade her to go and they let her borrow their jewels. She asks Siva to go, but he refuses out of pride. She then begs more, so he relents. At the party, Shiva shines with her beauty and the jewels and her sisters get jealous when their mother dotes on her. As a result, they tell their father of Siva's unwelcome presence. She confronts her father of his cruelty towards her husband. She then asks Yam, the king of death, to take her since her father treats Siva with such cruelty. Siva learns of her death, so he takes his trident to Daksha Raj's kingdom. He sees dead Sati and grieves her. Vishnu spreads the cut body of Sati's body all over the world and the places with Sita's pieces become holy. Without Sati, Siva becomes a Yogi and joins her in spirit.

Bibliography: Ideal Indian Women by Sunity Deeve (1919)

Siva Mourns Sati 

Source: Wikimedia Commons