Divine Life in Sri Aurobindo's Savitri

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Dr.B.R.M.Subramania Chetty is the first candidate awarded Ph.D. in the Department of English & Communications, Dravidian University. As a former contact Lecturer in English, he endeared himself to the students over a decade with his love for teaching. His translation work ‘Thirukkural, Righteousness: Morals and Virtues’ was published by Dravidian University in 2010.

As explaind by Dr. B.R.M. Subramania Chetty Sri Aurobindo’s mag- num opus is Savitri. It reveals his spiritual vision Divine Life’ on earth. This book brings out the significance of Savitri as a symbol for future, makes it easy to understand the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo as transformative experience in yoga, focuses on the all-embracing love of the Divine Mother and highlights the vision of Divine Life for the transformation of human consciousness.

Divine Life in Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri is my Ph.D. thesis which forms the basis of this book. An epic is traditionally a long narrative poem about the deeds of great heroes or a nation’s past history and legends. It is not a recreation of the old things; it is altogether a new creation, a new creation in terms of old things. When there is a crisis of values in a society or race, an epic comes into being to energise, expand and uplift the mortal spirits to the immortal heights. As such Savitri has a world-wide significance with the cosmic background; it is variously hailed and admired by eminent scholars as an epic of soul, a cosmic epic, a grand poem of humanity, an adventure in consciousness and a cosmic geography in detail.

Thanks to the inspiration and the opportunity given by Prof.G.Lakshminarayana, the former Vice-Chancellor of the Dravidian University, I undertook in 2006 my research work on Sri Aurobindo and Savitri in earnest.

The book consists of six chapters. In ‘Introduction’, Sn Aurobindo as Seer-Poet, the influence of the age, his life and works, his unique place in Indian writing in English, his contribution to English literature and the theme of his work are narrated.

In ‘Savitri as an Epic’, Savitri as a legend and a symbol, its theme and structure of epic, its poetic styles and qualities, epic similes, the nature of mystic poetry and modernity in poetic expression are described.

In ‘The Vision of Aswapati’, King Aswapati’s aspiration, his Yoga, his vision of the Divine Mother and Her boon to Aswapati are narrated.

In ‘The Mission of Savitri,’ the birth and quest of Savitri, Narada’s prophesy and the nature of Fate, Savitri’s marriage with Satyavan, the death of Satyavan, Savitri’s dialogue with Death, her Gospel of Love, and her conquest of Love over Death and her mission are described.

In ‘Divine Life on Earth’, the return of Savitri and Satyavan to Earth, Satyavan’s awakening, their joy of new life, Sri Aurobindo‘s concept of evolution of spiritual consciousness, Supermind and Superman, the transformation of earthly life into Divine Life are presented.

In ‘Conclusion’, the main points of investigation in research are put together and Sri Aurobindo’s vision for future and Savitri as a symbol for mankind are highlighted.

It seems strange that like Book XI and Book XII of Paradise Lost, those of Savitri are not much commented upon in works. Hence the focus of research work is on Book XI and XII of Savitri. That the key to the theme of my research work lies in the Epilogue of ‘Savitri’ is revealed to me by a voice, which, I am sure, is that of Sri Aurobindo. It is surely his unfailing grace as well as his guiding light that I have thus experienced in this work.

The fruit of the research work is the finding of Sn Aurobindo’s unique mantra for the Art of Living: "Live in love and give joy to all.’

I am most thankful to Prof. Kankanala Rathnaiah, Vice-Chancellor, Dravidian University and Prof. P. Adinarayana Reddy, Registrar for their keen interest in taking up the publication of my research work as a worthy tribute to Sri Aurobindo.

I express my sincere thanks to my Guide, Dr. V. Nirmala, Prof. M. Kumaraswamy Raju, Prof. Ch. A. Rajendra Prasad, Dr. B. Tirupati Rao, Dept. of English and Communications.

I express my sense of gratitude to Dr. Prema Nandakumar, for her deep love for Savitri and for giving a critical appreciation of my research work.

My thanks are due to Prof. D. Sravan Kumar, Director, Prasaaraanga for bringing out this book.

That the foundations of Indian culture are deeply embedded in Dravidian culture is now an incontrovertible fact. Dravidian culture is one of the most ancient cultures of the world. Though cultures, slightly contemporaneous to one another, are slowly fading out, the primordial Dravidian culture continues to thrive without losing its quintessence in spite of the apparent changes in systems of dress and address.

Dravidian University was established in 1997 to mirror the real and rich picture of Dravidian culture not only in its linguistic, literary, cultural and philosophical facets but also in science and technological angles too.

The main objectives of Dravidian University are to augment the common weal and social well-being of the communities of marginal languages and to build bridges among the Southern states. While working on each language separately in varied areas, it alms at a synthesis and a discovery of the common heritage through Comparative Studies.

The Centre for Publications and Extension Services is most significant wing of the University because of its several on-going progressive activities.

Sri Aurobindo is a great revolutionary and freedom fighter, a mahayogi and a mahakavi. His forty years of life at Pondicherry is a sega of literary activities besides his sadhanas and that his contribution of writings in English is unparalleled in the world of literature. Savitri is his magnum opus, the epic of soul. It is the greatest epic in English literature after Milton’s Paradise Lost.

Dr. B.R.M. Subramania Chetty is the first research scholar from the Department of English and Communications, who has been awarded Ph.D. for his thesis on Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri. I congratulate him for having taken up a most challenging topic for research and done his best in highlighting the significance of Sri Aurobindo’s Savitri, and the relevance of his message for changing the mental problem-ridden human consciousness into all-loving Divine Consciousness on earth — a much needed and awaited evolutionary leap for mankind — a dream, a promise, a vision to be fulfilled and realized.

By bringing out this book, Dravidian University pays its tribute to Sri Aurobindo, the Prophet of Nationalism, the Lover of Humanity, and the Poet of Divinity. I wish Dr. B.R.M. Subramania Chetty all success in his endevour and further research work which, I am sure, will inspire younger generation of scholars and readers as well.