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Hinduism and Tribal Religions pp 1–4Cite as

Sāvitrī

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Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Indian Religions ((EIR))

(1) Vedic divinity (2) Mythical heroine

Savitri, derived from the Sanskrit, means to stimulate or propel. The word occurs in several contexts in the Hindu tradition.

Savitri as a Vedic Divinity

Savitri is Savitr or Surya, the Sun God; one among the panchadevas of the Vedic period, including Indra, Mitra, Varuna, and Soma [7]. Savitri is the progenitor of life, the Supreme Being who propels thought and action and inspires higher consciousness. Savitri is the sun in his intense, vivid, and radiant aspect. The dazzling light of Savitri illuminates the earth, infusing energy to every living being and vivifying every inanimate object. As the king in heaven, Savitri imparts immortality to all gods [6]. Savitri as Surya is also one of the Adityas, the sons of the Vedic goddess Aditi and the sage, Rishi Kashyap. Savitri has associations with many Vedic rites. Several Vedic hymns are devoted to Savitri. The Brahmans, or upper-caste, twice-born Hindu males, worship the solar god as Savitri each...

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References

  1. Dutt T (1882) Ancient ballads and legends of Hindustan. Kegan Paul, London

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  2. Hillebrandt A (1990) Vedic mythology. Motilal Banarsidass, New Delhi

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  3. Jones CA, Ryan JD (2007) Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Facts On File, New York

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  4. Shepard A, Rosenberry V (1992) Savitri: a tale of ancient India. A. Whitman, Morton Grove

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  5. Sri Aurobindo (1951) Savitri: a legend and a symbol. Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry

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  6. Wilkins WJ (1973) Hindu mythology, vedic and puranic. Rupa, Calcutta

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  7. Williams GM (2003) Handbook of Hindu mythology. ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of English, Dr. Kanailal Bhattacharyya College (under University of Calcutta), Howrah, WB, India

    Sutapa Chaudhuri

Authors
  1. Sutapa Chaudhuri
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Anthropology, The University of North Texas Dept of Anthropology, Denton, Texas, USA

    Pankaj Jain

  2. The Graduate Theological Union , Berkeley, California, USA

    Rita Sherma

  3. Jamia Millia Islamia, Centre for the Study of Comparative Reli Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

    Madhu Khanna

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Chaudhuri, S. (2018). Sāvitrī. In: Jain, P., Sherma, R., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_574-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1036-5_574-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1036-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities

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