In Mahurpur, lived a rich Brahmin by name Gopinath. His children would not survive after birth. Therefore the husband and wife started worshipping Lord Dattatreya. After a while, a son was born to the couple. They named him Datta, with great love. As the only child, he was cherished and reared up with great affection. At the age of five, his thread-ceremony was performed with great pomp. At the age of twelve his marriage was arranged with a beautiful girl.

A few years later, Datta was infected by tuberculosis (TB). Even with the best treatment he was not cured of the disease. It only increased. His wife was very chaste and dutiful like the holy and exalted Savitri, the wife of prince Satyawan. Day and night she would render service to her husband. She would eat only so much food as her husband would eat. She would take medicines, which her husband took. Repeating the name of God, she would render service to her husband day and night. By now, the intensity of her husband’s illness went on increasing. A while later he completely stopped eating. Then his wife also sacrificed eating. Because he was bed-ridden for a long time, there were blisters on his body, which started emitting foul smell. Even then his wife continued to serve him. Her faithful service to her husband even under this adverse situation appeared like performing penance.

Datta’s father was a very rich man and even his father-in-law was also rich. They gave him best of the treatment from renowned Vaidya^[1], donated money for charity, carried out charitable acts, sacrificial works, offered prayers, religious observances but Datta’s health didn’t improve at all. As a result, Datta became totally disappointed and lost all hopes of recovery. He spoke to his parents “Everything will take place as preordained by my fate. I wanted to give you happiness in your old age, but I myself will not be there in this world. Probably this may be the wish of God”. Then he spoke to his wife “You have taken enough pains for me. Unfortunately my health condition has gone beyond one’s efforts. After my departure from this world, my parents will look after you, as their daughter. In case you wish to return to your parents’ home, you can do so”.

The chaste and dutiful wife of Datta had not given up her hopes, so she stopped her husband during his speech and said, “Please don’t sprinkle salt on my wounds. It is my misfortune that your condition has gone to this worst position. This must have been certainly written in my fate. However, I shall certainly follow you wherever you go. By the kind grace of Lord Dattatreya even now you will be saved from this calamity”. Then she spoke to her father-in-law as well as mother-in-law “I have come to know that, Lord Dattatreya himself is personally present at Ganagapur in the form of Lord Narasinha Saraswati. If you permit me I shall take my husband to Ganagapur to take blessings from Lord Narasinha Saraswati”.

Both her father-in law-and mother-in-law gave her the permission. After taking permission, she started for Ganagapur with her husband, laying him on a small bed. About two to four people also accompanied her in the journey. On the way, the health condition of her husband started worsening. Eventually with great difficulty she reached Ganagapur. There she enquired about Sriguru. She came to know that Sriguru was present at the ‘Sangam’. Therefore, she proceeded with her people towards the Sangam, but on the way itself her husband expired. She was struck with grief and started crying loudly. All the people around her also started crying. A number of people gathered there and tried to convince her. In the meantime, an accomplished ascetic with matted hair arrived at the scene. He spoke to her “Cool down. Do not waste your energy in this futile grief. You might cry to any extent but your husband would not become alive. In this world nobody is immortal. Death accompanies along with the birth. Hence do not grieve”.

Then that lady asked the Yogi “What shall I do next? Please show me the way”. The accomplished Yogi explained to her the rightful duty of a virtuous wife. He further said “After the death of one’s husband the concerned lady has to either burn herself on the funeral pyre of her husband or bear the pain of widowhood. You may select either of these duties as you prefer ”.  She replied, “Because of my young age and good looks, it would become extremely difficult for me to observe widowhood. So I would prefer to burn myself on my husbands funeral pyre”. To this, the Yogi advised her, “Before burning yourself on your husbands funeral pyre (Observance of the ritual of ‘Sati’), go to ‘Sangam’ and take the blessings of Sriguru. Take this sacred ash and apply it on your husband’s body. Also take these four Rudrakshas⁴¹. From these four wear two ‘Rudrakshas around your neck and use the remaining two to plug both the ears of your husband”.

Then she proceeded to the ‘Sangam’ along with the people. All the formalities for the funeral rites were completed. The lady applied the sacred ash on her husband’s body; she wore two ‘Rudrakshas’ around her neck and used the remaining two to plug the ears of her husband. Then she went to take the blessings of Sriguru.

She saw Sriguru sitting under the Audumbar tree, absorbed in deep meditation. When the lady prostrated before Sriguru, Sriguru blessed her saying “Ashtaputra soubhagyavati bhava” (Be a mother of eight sons). To this, the people present there narrated Sriguru with all details of the situation “Maharaj this lady has willingly decided to burn herself on her husband’s funeral pyre prior to which, she desired to take your blessings”. Then Sriguru replied, “My words will not go in vain. I do not agree that her husband has expired. Bring him before me”. So the People left the place to carry her husbands body to Sriguru.

At that same time some people arrived there to perform the Padyapooja^[2] of Sriguru. In addition, the dead body of the Brahmin’s son was brought and kept in front of Sriguru. Sriguru then told the people who had come there to perform ‘Padyapooja’, “Now sprinkle the water from this Padyapooja on the ‘dead body”. After this, Sriguru glanced at the dead body with his kind Divine Grace and a miracle took place. The dead Datta got up and sat!. He looked around and was surprised to see the people assembled there. His wife was thrilled to see her husband alive and narrated everything to him.

Then people present accompanying her took bath at the ‘Sangam’ and worshipped Sriguru in a Shodshopchar⁶⁶ way. After this worship Sriguru spoke to the lady “Along with the Naamsmaran (repeating God’s name mentally), since you were also rendering service to your husband, I was forced to come to your rescue. Your husband will continue to live for thirty more years and you will also continue to live as a Suvasinee^[3]. You will go to Heaven, only as a Suvasinee, before your husband’s departure from this world. As per my word, you will become a mother of eight sons and your entire family will be fully devoted to Lord Dattatreya and continue to live with happiness and peace”.

The second day too, they all worshipped Sriguru with great devotion. They held a function to entertain all Brahmins and also gave money in charity in a big way. When the lady asked Sriguru about the greatness of ‘Rudraksha’ and the Bhasma^[4], Sriguru told her in detail about the greatness of both. Then people present there, returned home in a merry mood, singing in praise of Sriguru.