Savitri

In Indian culture, a mythic figure and
the model for a virtuous and faithful
wife, who by her cleverness is able to
rescue her husband Satyavan from the
clutches of Death himself. Before Savitri
is betrothed to Satyavan, she has been
told that he will die within a year. Savitri
replies that she has chosen him for her
husband and will not be deterred. On
the day that he is fated to die, Satyavan
goes to the forest to cut wood, accompanied by Savitri. After Satyavan falls
unconscious while working, Savitri sees
Yama, the god of Death, draw out
Satyavan’s soul and start his journey
back to the underworld. Savitri follows
them. When Yama tells her that she cannot follow where they are going, she
meekly replies that it is her wifely duty
to follow her husband. Yama grants her
some wishes, although she is forbidden
to ask for her husband’s life. Savitri first
requests that her blind father-in-law
shall regain his sight, then that he shall
regain the kingdom from which he has
been exiled, and finally that she shall
have many sons. All of these requests
are granted, and when she points out
that the return of her husband will be
necessary for her to have many sons,
Yama acknowledges that he has been
outwitted, and leaves the two of them to
many happy years together.