Gautami - Her agony and ecstasy
Gautami does not know that she has reached the ashram or whose daughter she is. She was doing the same things since the day she remembered; No one ever untied for her, the saffron robe that had been tightened by a teenage obsession, with certain strange eyes and a majestic voice.
The wild flowers that bloomed only in the mind, fell and flowed in the stream without spreading their fragrance for anyone.
One spring, Gautami came running from the place where the food was being prepared after hearing the name of Kanva maharshi who had returned from his evening prayers. After wiping her hands on the robe, Gautami realized what her birth destiny was, which she had not known until then. She held the open-eyed pearl to her chest closely, handed over by Kanva. Until then, her life as Kanva's servant was by preparing the worship materials, taking care of the ashram and its surroundings, and taking care of the children of other sages. In that one moment everything has changed, even the thought of the presence of God held so dear.
Little did anyone know that when she squealed the diluted goat's milk poured into the cow's milk, she inserted her never-sucking breast into the child’s tender lips. All ambitions to nurture a child are contained within the saffron robe. Still, God put Shakuntala in Kanva’s hands and addressed Gautami as her mother.
Even when everyone said that she was Apsaraputri, Gautami thought that she was her own. The baby's feet did not hurt even once when she held them on her chest. Her chirpy laugh was tickling the mind in full. Days flew past and the young daughter grew up in front of their eyes.
It was when on his voyage for hunting to the forests one day, the young Prince happened to meet and was attracted towards Shakuntala in the garden of Kanva's Ashram. He was Dushyanta, the young Prince of Hastinapur, and had been drawn by her beauty and love blossomed. They exchanged a Ring and were engaged to tie the knot as per Gandharava Vidhi . Kanva, the distraught and hesitant father as he was consoled by Gautami, of this sudden development. She also convinced him finally and told that their daughter’s decision was not wrong. More so because she doesn't want the eyes of her beloved daughter filled with tears which is unbearable.
Years passed by, but there was no news about the King after he left for his kingdom with his entourage, leaving her at the Ashram. Although Kanva could not bear the separation of his daughter at all, he persuaded Gautami to accompany their daughter alongwith Anasuya and Priyamvada to the Hastinapur Palace, keeping in mind of only her future. They want to know the reason for his absence and to remind him of the realtionship and accept her to the palace. But Oh God, all hopes were dashed.
When her daughter burst into tears because of the humiliation at the palace, Gautami just stood speechless. And Kanva maharshi was ready to accept her back and treat her like gold no matter what. There too, she was banned from entering the ashram as she was accused of being defiled.
“To whom to cry! Are the gods so blind?” Gautami felt helpless and broke down .
Even after knowing that Kanva maharshi had arrived, Gautami was too weak to get up. The eyes were full and still didn't close. The food brought by Anasuya was cold. Priyamvada is still crying and wailing.
As Maharishi entered the room, Anasuya and Priyamvada got up, saluted and went out.
Kanva sat next to Gautami for the first time. Gautami opened her eyes when she felt a cold hand on her forehead. Then she broke down and cried continuously.
"Oh my dear , why are you so worried? Don't you also know that all these are God's whims and orders? Our daughter is now safe by her mother's side."
"Her mother! That… isn't that me?"
"No, Gautami.. you and I were only companions for a short time in her life's journey. That day, they gave us a name and we became father and mother." Maharshi's words stopped.
Gautami got up with a deep breath after a long silence. She stretched both her hands and grasped the Maharshi's hand tightly.
"Mahamune... I understand everything. Gautami's purpose in life is fulfilled. I have nothing more to do here."
Kanva maharshi looked at her in surprise and did not move.
"Aren't you a great Tapaswi! Can't you end my life? Won't you help me surrender my soul to God?"
"Gautami....what are you moaning about?"
Gautami got up slowly without saying a word and bowed at Kanva's feet. Then chanting mantras, holding the Rudraksha tightly, folded hands to her chest and closed her dry eyes and laid down stretching her legs upright!!
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Addendum : In Kalidasa's Abhijnanasakuntala, Gautami, a little-known resident of Kanvashram, was given the position of Shakuntala's stepmother and given the opportunity to accompany her to the palace and plead for her to the King Dushyanta.
( This is an imaginary story drafted vaguely from a play by Leesa Mathew @Subish Leeza, the author of the play 'Mudranguleeya'. )
A poignant story detailing the tender sentiments of the characters very well.
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