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Privilege of Pain — The Role of Pain in the Spiritual Journey*

Divyanshi Chugh

Abstract
Sri Aurobindo’s epic poem, Savitri, amongst many things, is also a healer. The consciousness
in the mantric words of Savitri helps heal and bring back the rhythm in life, through its own
sweet rhythm. Besides, Savitri provides profound insights on the subject of ‘Suffering and
Pain’, which can help us heal and grow even through pain. In the Canto, ‘The Way of Fate and
the Problem of Pain’, there are central lessons about the role of pain in the spiritual journey. In
this study, we focus on unravelling these.

and Narad, the seer-sage who predicts and
forewarns about the death of Satyavan, Savitri’s
soon-to-be husband, within a year of their
marriage — a fate usually interpreted as a
misfortune. Thus, it is revealed that what is
usually seen as a misfortune to the normal heart,
is an opportunity for the progress of the spirit.

Let us first begin.

The Catalyst: A Mother’s Enquiry

The narrative unfolds with the Queen,
Much knowledge of suffering and pain, fate Savitri’s mother, suddenly shaken out of her
and destiny, can be gleaned through a profound usual graceful and quiet poise. Confronted
dialogue between the earthly parents of Savitri with the premonition that her future son-in-

*This article is based on a presentation, ‘The Privilege of Pain’, Divyanshi Chugh gave on 4th
January 2024 at the Conference, ‘Understanding & Eliminating Suffering & Pain at Society Hall,
Pondicherry, organised by NAMAH, the Journal of Integral Health.

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