Seemanthini

Long ago there was a king called Chitravarma. He had eight sons and a daughter. He was very fond of his daughter and christened her Seemanthini. She grew to be a beautiful woman.

When he showed her horoscope to the court astrologers, they proclaimed in ominous tones, “She’ll become a widow soon after her wedding.” The king became downcast at this prediction and kept the news from his daughter. But somehow she got wind of it. On the advice of her mother, she fasted on Mondays and worshipped Lord Siva every day of the week to ward off the evil in the prediction.

Some years later, the king celebrated her wedding with Chandrangada, Prince of Nishadapur. The king was so fond of his daughter that he persuaded the newly wedded couple to stay with him at the palace.

One day Chandrangada went out on a river picnic. When the boat reached mid-river, a strong gale arose and the frail craft capsized, drowning all. Miraculously, Chandrangada was rescued by some mermaids who took him to their underwater palace. Nagvarma, King of the under-sea kingdom, received Chandrangada hospitably because the latter was the son-in-law of his friend, Chitravarma.

In the meantime, Seemanthini grieved to hear of her husband’s untimely end in the river. She gave up all joys in life and began to spend her time in prayer.

After some time, Chandrangada wished to return to his land. At once, Nagvarma, King of the Undersea Kingdom, arranged a passage through the river for the safe return of the prince to the land of the mortals. Seemanthini was overjoyed to see her husband alive again and thought that her fasting and constant prayer to Lord Siva had yielded fruit.

Then Seemanthini went to Nishadapur with her husband. There, she did not forget her daily ritual of prayer and fasting on auspicious days. On each Monday of the week, she invited married couples to the palace and gave them many gifts. Her fame as a virtuous woman spread far and wide.

In the land of Vidarbha, there were two young brahmins, Somavanth and Sumedh. As was the custom in those far-off days, the two young men finished their period of bachelorhood and earned permission from their parents to enter the next stage of the householder. The parents were poor and therefore could not arrange for their marriage. You see, in those days, men had to pay a dowry to the parents before the offer of marriage could be finalized, not as it is nowadays. So the parents sent their sons to the king to seek financial assistance in the matter.

The king heard their plaint and advised them to go to Seemanthini at Nishadapur. “But Sire,” protested Somavanth, “Seemanthini will give gifts only to those who are husband and wife. We are two bachelors and we’ll never be admitted to her presence.”

“Then,” laughed the king, “go as husband and wife.” Now the king meant by this no more than a joke, and he never for a moment believed that the two young men would take him at his word.

But they took the king’s words seriously. So Somavanth donned the garb of a lovely maiden, and posing as husband and wife, they went to Nishadapur on a Monday, stood in the queue of such couples, and took their gifts of money and clothes from Seemanthini herself. No one guessed that they were not husband and wife but two charlatans out to deceive the good and virtuous lady, Seemanthini.

Somavanth came home and took off his disguise, but discovered to his horror that he had indeed become a woman.

He ran to his parents, and they too were dumbfounded at this transformation. Then they all went to the King of Vidarbha and lamented before him. “Oh, King, see what your words have caused. Now what is to happen to me,” wailed Somavanth.

The king was struck by guilt that his innocent advice should have caused such a great havoc in the young man’s life. So he retired from the court and spent his time meditating before Parvathi, the Divine Mother. She appeared to him in a vision and demanded to know what had happened. Then the king related the mishap caused by his words and requested her to change Somavanth back into a man.

Then Goddess Parvathi replied, “Oh, King, what you ask is clearly impossible. Seemanthini is a virtuous and chaste woman. When Somavanth and Sumedh appeared before her as husband and wife, she thought they were indeed what they claimed to be and accordingly gave them gifts. Her chaste thought thus made permanent what was a base deception on the part of the brash young men. This cannot be undone. So let them live happily as husband and wife.”

Thus Somavanth became Somayathi, and in due course married Sumedh. A chaste and virtuous wife can move even mountains and seas. Seemanthini, with her devotion and steadfastness to her husband, is the brightest example of chastity winning over all.