Was not the 1950-51 edition of Savitri approved by Sri Aurobindo? During 1979-86, for eight years, the Archives editors examined all the available drafts of Savitri and, based on certain editorial policies formulated by them, prepared a comprehensive list of changes that should be introduced as new readings in place of the ones present in the earlier printed editions. These readings rather ‘corrections’ are essentially of two types: i) transmission errors arising because of the composition passing through several stages, and through several hands, including the preparation of fair copy, typing, proofreading, and these going bac

Apropos of Savitri The composition of Savitri has a long history; definitely it has a history of thirty-four years, beginning with August 1916 till mid-November 1950. The poem started as a narrative tale picked up from the Mahabharata. It had in the beginning some eight hundred lines. Eventually it grew into a full epic and consists of twelve books running into twenty-four thousand lines. In the process it acquired the significance of a symbolic transformative legend which is also the luminous medium for presenting yogic-spiritual experiences and realisations of the Author. Several versions in the form of manuscripts and typescripts add up to about eight thousand sheets; w

A few Examples of unacceptable Editing Though few, there are factual details about the composition of Savitri which are indeed revealing in many contexts. The first available draft dated 8/9 August 1916 has only 1637 lines which became in the latest printed version 23,837. Part I which was mostly written by Sri Aurobindo himself in his own hand had, in 1944, about 9000 lines; but as the revision by dictation proceeded, it grew to 11,683 in the printed text of 1950. This kept on happening in the fair copy made by Nirodbaran, in the typescripts, proofs, and the printed versions which had come out either in the Ashram journals or as fascicles. The very first l

-02_Publisher^s Note.htm Publisher’s Note The composition of Savitri has a long history, starting from August 1916 till mid-November 1950. The epic began as a short narrative based on the Mahabharata tale and grew from about eight hundred to twenty-four thousand lines. In the process it developed into a symbolic transformative legend which is also the luminous medium for presenting experiences and realisations of the Yogi-Author, his prophetic vision. While the first part of Savitri is essentially in Sri Aurobindo own hand, the other two appear mostly by dictation. There are now some eight thousand sheets of manuscripts and typescripts. During the period of composition these drafts went back and

The Mother: Savitri—the supreme revelation of Sri Aurobindo's vision No matter where you open, no matter where you read, it's wonderful! Immediately it's wonderful ... Wonderful! —13 March 1963 I know that light. I am immediately plunged into it each time I read Savitri. It is a very, very beautiful light. —18 September 1962 Savitri alone is sufficient to make you climb to the highest peaks. If truly one knows how to meditate upon Savitri, one will receive all the help one needs. For him who wishes to follow this path, it is a concrete help as though the Lord himself were taking you by the hand and leading you to the destined goal. And then, every quest

This whole Theory of Authentication and Approval Nirodbaran and Amal Kiran Approve the Corrections In the following is reproduced an official note written by Nirodbaran and Amal Kiran to Manoj Das Gupta, the trustee in-charge concerned with the Ashram copyright and publication matters. The note effectively tells the authorities to go ahead with the printing of the Revised Edition of Savitri. But this has no spiritual sanctity, as no one can derive powers from the author of Savitri to make changes in the work that came out during his time, nor did he delegate any to anyone. Apart from the lack of spiritual sanctity, it has neither any formalized