online support
Ajitsen, a highly intelligent minister in the court of the king of Nandannagar, was married to Shiyalvati, a woman possessing profound knowledge of omens (sukan-shastra). Ajitsen's prosperity thrived as he followed her guidance to conduct his business at auspicious times. Once, the king ordered Ajitsen to join him in a war against another kingdom. In anticipation of a long separation, Shiyalvati placed a garland around her husband's neck, vowing her fidelity until the flowers withered.
Days later, the king was astonished to find the garland still fresh despite the battlefield conditions. Curious about its preservation, he learned of Shiyalvati's unwavering devotion and fidelity. Meanwhile, another minister named Ashok ridiculed the concept of chastity. He was offered a substantial sum to test Shiyalvati's fidelity. Ashok approached a flower-girl and instructed her to inform Shiyalvati of a handsome visitor. Demanding payment, the flower-girl conveyed the message to Shiyalvati.
Siyalvati decided to outwit the deceitful minister. She dug a deep pit, placed a cot without strings over it, and concealed the pit with a bedspread. Following her instructions, her maid-servant asked Ashok to pay her and then wait on the cot. Unaware of the pit, Ashok fell into it when attempting to sit. Similar fates befell three other ministers—Kamankur, Lalitang, and Ratikeli over the subsequent months, as they sought to defile Shiyalvati's chastity.
When Sinhraja, the victorious king, returned to the city, Shiyalvati presented four boxes containing ghostly figures with overgrown facial hair and sunken features. The king realized these were his ministers, each humiliated and defeated in their attempts to challenge Shiyalvati's virtue. Impressed by her chastity and wit, the king held Shiyalvati in high regard.
Shiyalvati possessed an extraordinary ability to communicate with birds and animals. One night, upon hearing a jackal's bark, she ventured into a dense forest with a pitcher on her head. Her father-in-law suspected her chastity and followed her. He was astonished to witness Shiyalvati conversing with a crow. The crow revealed hidden pitchers of gold beneath a tree, confirming her innocence. With his doubts dispelled, Shiyalvati's father-in-law sought her forgiveness.
In time, both Shiyalvati and Ajitsen embraced spiritual initiation. Following their deaths, they ascended to the fifth celestial world and ultimately attained salvation, free from the cycle of birth and rebirth. Their story underscores the importance of virtue, fidelity, and wisdom in navigating life's challenges and attaining spiritual liberation.
