The book is a compilation of stories on women in India who instead of staying within the confines of their kitchen came out to fight for their rights and for the welfare of their families.
The first story about Sati is known to us all. It talks of Sati who, as Lord Shiva'swife, was not invited to a havan ceremony. Shiva became very angry but on Sati'sinsistence allowed her to go to attend the function. On reaching there, when she saw all other gods present except her own husband, she jumped into the havan kund and got burned. Shiva heard of this and sent Veerhbadra to douse the flames and save Sati. Soon Shiva reached his father-in-law'splace, picked up the burning body of his wife Sati and placing her on his shoulder began going round and round India like a madman. Lord Vishnu came and began to chop Sati'sbody into different parts and wherever the parts fell, religious sites sprang up, like Jwalamukhi, Vaishno Devi, and so on.
In the next story Parvati prays for getting Shiva as her husband. While praying she sees a child being carried away by a crocodile in a lake. She begs of the crocodile to release the child but the animal refuses till Parvati promises to give her entire penance to him. After saving the child, Parvati again starts praying from the beginning. On seeing her devotion, Shiva appears and tells her that it was he who had appeared in the form of a crocodile and was testing her. This also tells the story of how Parvati goes to take her bath after making a clay boy and infusing life into it to keep guard on the door. Lord Shiva returns and wants to go inside the house but the boy refuses to grant him permission. Shiva in anger chops off the boy'shead. When Parvati comes out, she sees the gory sight and starts howling. Shiva sends his men to get the first head that they see of a living being and they bring the head of an elephant. Shiva plants the head upon the boy and thus Gajanan or Ganesha comes into being.
In the story of Savitri, the protagonist accompanies her husband through the forest and soon discovers that he has died on the way. When Yamraj, God of Death, comes to take him away, Savitri places five conditions before him and persuades him to revive her husband.
In the story Mahasati Anasuya, the latter is married to Maharishi Atre who is a sage. Anasuya has to go far and wide to collect water but despite suffering all kinds of hardships, she continues to pray to Mother Ganga to start flowing near her hut. So that she would not have to trudge around for water. Seeing her devotion, Gangaji becomes happy and begins to flow next to Maharishi Atre'sashram.
This way there are stories of other noble women like Sita, Shabri, Rukmani, Draupadi, Padmini, Panna Dai, Rani Durgawati, Jijabai, Rani Chennamma and Lakshmibai Kelkar who have carved a name for themselves as brave women of India.
(Jagriti Prakashan, F-109, Sector 27, Noida-201301.)
