Vat Savitri Vrat is a Hindu festival which is a special festival for married women. This festival is also called Vat Amavasya. This festival is celebrated by married women. In this festival, the married woman makes a symbol of her love for her husband by tying a ceremonial thread around a banyan tree. The festival is based on the story of Savitri and Satyavan. As described in the Mahabharata, this fast has become a symbol of idealistic femininity in Indian culture.
There is a lot of disagreement about this fast, according to Skanda Purana and Bhavishya Purana, it is a law to observe the full moon day of Shukla Paksha of Jyeshtha month, while according to Nirnayamrita etc. it is said that fasting on the new moon day of Jyeshtha month.
Even after differences in dates, the purpose of this fast is the same. Many women believe in observing this fast from Trayodashi of Jyeshtha month to Amavasya and likewise from Trayodashi to Poornima of Shukla Paksha. Most of those who worship Lord Vishnu do this fast on full moon.
In Vat Savitri fast, both ‘Vat’ and ‘Savitri’ have been considered to be of specific importance. Vat means tree to the banyan. Banyan tree is considered to be of special importance in Hinduism. It is clarified in the Puranas that Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh reside in the vat. Savitri is considered a historical character in Indian culture. Savitri also means Ved Mata Gayatri and Saraswati.
How to worship during Vat Savitri Vrat?
The idols of Savitri and Satyavan and Yama riding on a buffalo should be worshiped under the banyan tree and water should be given to the root of the tree. There should be water, Mouli, Roli, raw cotton, soaked gram, flowers and incense for worship. After irrigating the banyan tree with water, wrap a raw thread around the stem and circumambulate it three times. After this the story of Satyavan-Savitri should be heard. After this, after taking out the seeds of the soaked gram, keeping as much money on it as possible, give it to your mother-in-law and touch her feet.
Legend
Bhadra was a king of the country, named Ashwapati. King Ashwapati of the Bhadra country had no children.
He gave one lakh sacrifices daily along with chanting for the attainment of children. This sequence continued for eighteen years.
After this, Savitridevi appeared and said that ‘Rajan you will be born a stunning girl. Because of being born by the grace of Savitri Devi, the girl was named Savitri.
The girl grew up and became very beautiful. Savitri’s father was grieved because of not getting a suitable groom. He sent the girl to find the bride herself.
Savitri started wandering in Tapovan. King Dumatsen of the country of Salve lived there, because his kingdom was taken away by someone. Seeing his son Satyavan, Savitri selected him as her husband.
When Rishiraj Narada came to know about this, he reached to King Ashwapati and said, “O Rajan!” What are you doing? Satyavan is virtuous, righteous and powerful, but he is very young, he is young. He will die after one year.
After listening to Rishi Raja Narada, King Ashwapati was overwhelmed with great anxiety. Savitri asked him the reason, the king said, daughter, the prince whom you have chosen as your groom is a young man. You should make someone else your life partner.
To this, Savitri said that father, Arya girls vow only once to their husbands, the king gives orders only once and pandits make vows only once and Kanyadaan is also done only once.
Savitri started stubbornly and said I will marry Satyavan. King Ashwapati married Savitri to Satyavan.
Savitri started serving her mother-in-law as soon as her mother-in-law arrived. Time eloped. Narada Muni had already told Savitri about the day of Satyavan’s death. As the day drew closer, Savitri began to get impatient. He started fasting three days in advance. Narada Muni worshiped ancestors on an alleged fixed date.
Like every day, Satyavan went to the forest to cut wood that day as well as Savitri. On reaching the forest, Satyavan climbed a tree to cut wood. Then his head started hurting, Satyawan, distraught with pain, came down from the tree. Savitri understood her future.
Putting Satyavan’s head in her lap, Savitri started caressing Satyavan’s head. Then Yamraj was seen coming there. Yamraj started taking Satyavan with him. Savitri also followed him.
Yamraj tried to convince Savitri that this is the law of the law. But Savitri did not listen.
Seeing Savitri’s loyalty and piety, Yamraj told Savitri that you are blessed, O Goddess. You ask me any boon.
1) Savitri said that my in-laws are forest dwellers and blind, give them divine light. Yamraj said that this will happen. Go return now
But Savitri followed her husband Satyavan. Yamraj said Goddess you go back. Savitri said, God, I have no problem in following my husband. It is my duty to follow the husband. Hearing this, he again asked her to ask for another groom.
2) Savitri said, our father-in-law’s kingdom has been taken away, let him get it back again.
Yamraj also gave this boon to Savitri and said, now you return. But Savitri kept following.
Yamraj asks Savitri to ask for a third boon.
3) Savitri asked for the blessings of 100 children and good luck on this. Yamraj also gave his boon to Savitri.
Savitri told Yamraj that Prabhu I am a loving wife and you have blessed me to be a daughter. On hearing this, Yamraj had to leave the life of Satyavan. Yamraj disappeared and Savitri came to the same tree where her husband’s dead body lay.
Satyavan became alive and both happily walked towards their kingdom. When both reached home, they saw that the parents had received the divine light. In this way Savitri-Satyavan continued to enjoy state happiness for a long time.
Rules and Benefits of Vat Purnima Vrat:
On this auspicious day, women take a holy bath in the morning. This holy bath is considered to be the purification of mind and body. Married women who wish to conduct this vrat and puja, wear new colourful clothes, bright bangles, and apply vermillion on the forehead. They put one leaf of Banyan on their hair. Women also offer Nine types of fruits to the Goddess Savitri. Wet pulses, rice, mangos, jackfruits, palm fruits, kendu, bananas and several other fruits are offered as Bhoga (offering) and the rest of the day is observed with Savitri Vrat Katha. Once ladies complete their vrat, they consume the Bhogal and take blessings from the husband and the elders in the family.
It is believed that Vat Savitri Vrat blesses married Hindu women with a better life and good fortune. If a married Hindu woman observes the fast with devotion, she will be able to bring good luck, long life, and prosperity for her husband. Women performing all the rituals of Vat Savitri Vrat, enjoy a happy and peaceful married life.