Vat Savitri Purnima Vrat is a Hindu fest celebrated auspiciously by married women in India for the long life of their husbands. Typically, the festivity is observed in states like Maharashtra, Goa, and Gujarat by worshipping the banyan tree and reciting the story of Savitri and Satyavan.
Let’s have a deep outlook on this concerned festivity, explaining the history, importance, and rituals associated with it:
Vat Savitri Purnima Vrat, Significance, & The Story Behind It
Observed on Purnima, which means the full moon day, the festival comes in the month of Jyestha (May-June). In 2025, people will observe the Vat Savitri Purnima Fast on the date 10th of June.
The story of Savitri and Satyavan is narrated during the puja. Offerings are made to the Banyan tree while worshipping, such as fruits, flowers, and sweets. Women worship the banyan tree to seek blessings of a happy married life, a long life, and the well-being of their husbands too.
Let’s now get to know about the story of Savitri and Satyavan, which is closely connected with this vrat, here:
Once upon a time, there was a king named Ashwapati who ruled the Kingdom of Bhadra. He had no offspring, which filled his heart with sorrow. During that period, Savitri Devi appeared before him and said that he would be blessed with a radiant daughter. After some time, a girl was born in his home and the king named her Savitri.
His daughter Savitri was very beautiful, which captured the attention of many. However, the king was not able to find a suitable groom for him. It was when Savitri embarked on a journey to seek for herself a worthy husband.
She reached Tapovan, where she got her eyes on King Dyumatsen of Salva’s son named Satyavan, and she decided that he would be her life partner.
When the sage Narad got to know about Savitri’s choice, he cautioned King Ashwapati that Satyavan’s life was short-lived and that he would pass within a year. Knowing about this thing even, Savitri still chose to marry Satyavan. So, she married him, and as time passed, the truth of Satyavan’s death was drawing near.
Savitri, day by day, was getting anxious about this truth, and three days before the predicted date, she began a fast and started doing ancestral worship, which was instructed by Narada Muni.
After a few days of this, Satyavan went to the forest to gather wood, taking along Savitri. When he climbed a tree to cut wood, he felt a sudden pain in his head and fell from the tree.
Savitri knew about the grim reality that was going to happen ahead. Yama, the lord of death, arrived to take Satyavan for the afterlife; Savitri pleaded in front of him to not take Satyavan with him.
On seeing the unwavering love of Savitri, Yam asked him for three wishes, upon which Savitri asked for the divine light for her blind father-in-law and mother-in-law. Then she asked for her father-in-law’s kingdom, which was seized from him. Another wish she asked for was that she be blessed with a hundred children. Yamraj agreed to grant all her wishes.
Later on, when Yam is about to take Satyavan with him, Savitri says that if he would take her husband with him, then how could she be blessed with 100 children?
Watching this eternal devotion and love of Savitri towards her husband, Yam decided to give life back to her husband. After this event, Savitri and Satyavan ruled the kingdom happily ever after and lived their life with eternal bliss and prosperity.
Rituals You Must Perform For Vat Savitri Vrat
- On the Vat Savitri Vrat day, wake up before sunrise and take a bath with water including ‘gingli’ sesame seeds and ‘amla’ called gooseberry.
- The married women must wear new clothes after the bath, wear bangles, and apply ‘vermillion’ Kumkum on the forehead. They must also wear a Carnelian Oval Faceted Bracelet to observe the fast.
- The root of the ‘vat,’ called the banyan tree, is eaten with water. The women who observe this fast for three days eat only the roots for three days.
- The women also worship the Vat tree by tying a yellow or red-colored thread around the tree. After this, water, flowers, and rice are offered as part of the puja.
- Women also do parikrama of the banyan tree and also chant prayers after doing so.
- For people who cannot visit the banyan tree, they make a portrait of the banyan tree on wood or plate using turmeric or sandalwood paste.
- After the puja is completed, all the preparations are distributed among families and friends. On the day of Vat Savitri Vrat, women seek blessings from elders and married women too in the house.
- It is also believed that doing charity on this day is auspicious and people usually donate money, food, and clothes to the poor and needy.
In Conclusion
So, this was everything about this sacred vrat that is contemplated by worshipping the Banyan tree in an auspicious manner. The vrat reminds us of the protest of Savitri, how she challenged fate and took her husband out of his misery.
Want to know more about this vrat and rituals? Then connect with us at pandit.com; you will be provided expert knowledge from the renowned astrologer and Mahaguru Pt. Rahul Kaushl.
