Know All About Vat Savitri
Vat Savitri is also called Vat Purnima. ‘Vat’ is the Sanskrit term for a Banyan tree, while 'Savitri' was the woman who won her husband back to life from the clutches of the God of death.
This Hindu celebration is based on the legend of Savitri and Satyavan, where Savitri got back her husband Satyavan’s life from Yama, the god of death by observing fast on the auspicious day of ‘Vat Purnima’. Hence, it is observed by married women in various states across India.
On this traditional festival, ‘Vat Purnima Vrat’ - a day-long fast is observed by married women for the well-being and longevity of their husbands. On this day, they mark their love and devotion for their husbands by performing puja under the banyan tree and tying a ceremonial thread around ‘Vat’ (banyan tree).
According to Hindu scriptures, the banyan tree holds the essence of the three Gods – Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh of Hindu mythology. The roots represent ‘Brahma’; the stem represents ‘Vishnu’, the upper part of the tree represents ‘Shiva’, while the entire tree represents ‘Savitri’. Hence, the banyan tree holds special importance on this day.
Vat Savitri Puja Procedure
In the present day, the festival is celebrated in the following way - women wake up early and bathe, dress up in fine sarees and jewellery, cook pooris and carry 24 pooris along with fruits to the Banyan tree to offer puja.
The puja is performed both - alone and in groups, where they worship the tree by applying vermillion, chandan, and offering flowers. With devotion, half the pooris are kept as a prasad offering at the tree's base. Swastika out of Haldi, Roli (Kum Kum), and akshat (grains of rice) before the tree is made and incense sticks are lit.
Women then circumambulate the Vat Vriksha (Banyan tree) while winding the sacred thread around the tree's trunk seven times and offer a grain of chana at the base of the tree after every round. - praying not only for the long life of their husbands but also to get the same husband for all the seven births written in one's fate. And after completing, they sit down before the Vat tree and pray.
In the daytime, women listen to the Vat Savitri Vrat Katha - the story of Satyawan and Savitri, their undying love, and how they made the God of Death relent to their prayers. And in the evening, break the fast by first swallowing soaked or roasted chana grains.
After completing all the rituals, women seek blessings of elder members of the family and their husbands.
The Vat Savitri Story
Today, women listen to the Savitri-Satyavan Katha, which dates back to the age of Mahabharata, to pay their respects to Savitri.
Savitri married Satyavan, who was destined to die within a year of marriage. On the day of Satyavan's destined death, Satyavan suddenly felt weak and died in the lap of his grieving, unwavering wife who laid his body under a Banyan (Vat) tree.
When Yama (the God of Death) came to fetch Satyavan's soul, Savitri did not accept this and rebelled. Yamaraj impressed by her conviction and choice of words granted her with three boons, limiting the boons to everything but Satyavan's life. Savitri wittily asked for 100 children of her and Satyavan. Surprised by her devotion Yamaraj granted her another boon and this time he didn't keep any conditions and therefore Savitri asked for the life of her husband. Putting Yama in a dilemma, he finally agreed to keep Satyavan alive, owing to Savitri's persistence and dedication. The happy wife went back and circled around the Banyan tree ceremoniously, after which Satyavan woke up as if from a deep sleep.
Therefore, Married Hindu women celebrate the festival of 'Vat Savitri' every year preaching the commitment and love for their husband that Savitri is entitled.
