Reading Diary B: Nine Ideal Women by Sunity Devee

I read Nine Ideal Indian Women by Sunity Devee this week.  The women that I read about today were Sati and Uttara.  One of my favorite stories is from the life of Sati.  It was the story of how she came to be with Siva and how she lived with Siva.  I found that it was interesting that Sita was discouraged from marrying Siva.  Even though Siva was a poor god he was still the god of creation and as such Daksha Raj should have been happy to have his daughter marry Siva but instead it vexed him that Sati chose to marry Siva.  Even Siva’s attire should have impressed Daksha Raj.  Cobras formed Siva’s crown, around his should was a tiger’s skin and he held in his hands the earth, sky and seas.  He also could see the past, present, and future.  After the wedding, Sati and Siva lived humbly but they loved each other so much.  They spent time with each other in a garden where nature sang praises about them.  Another story I liked was also from the story of Sati.  It was when she decided to go to her Daksha Raj’s yagua.  It is odd that even though she loved Siva so much she decided to go against his wishes and go to the yagua even though they had not been invited.  Then after she goes to the party, it is sad to read of how her father, Daksha Raj, treated her.  It was also sad when Sati cursed her father then she died.  Siva’s sorrow after that was understandable and it was odd that he could do nothing for her soul after she had died.

Shiva mourns Sati (Source: wikimedia)