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On the puja day, banyan tree also symbolically represents Savitri as mentioned in Mahabharata.
The festival is celebrated thorough out India. However, it is more popular in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Orissa. In southern states, especially in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, it is called Karadaiyan Nonbu.
Married women observe fast to assert their devotion to their husbands and to maintain the sanctity and well-being of their marriage. The festival has great social significance.
As a married lady, you should observe it to pray for the long and healthy life of your husband with whom you can lead a happy, peaceful, and successful married life. A long and healthy association with your husband will help you to discharge your personal, familial, and social responsibilities with ease.
It is observed for three days (two days before purnima or amavasi) in the month of Jyeshtha (May-June).
Vat Savitri Vrat Tithi
In 2010, the date of the Vat Savitri Purnima puja is June 26th according to lunar calendar.
Brief Legend
The vrat is named after Savitri, the beautiful and extremely intelligent daughter of king Aswapati of Bhadra kingdom. One day, in the forest, Savitri met a handsome young man, named Satyavan, who was carrying his blind parents in two baskets balanced on either side of a stick over his shoulder. She became very much impressed by his devotion towards his parents and decided to marry him.
When king Aswapati learnt about her will, he tried to find out from the heavenly Sage Narada about the future of prospective couple. Sage Narda told Aswapati that Satyavan is the son of a deposed king and destined to die in a year. Accordingly, Savitri was also informed about the truth, but she was not ready to change her mind. Finally, king Aswapati relented the marriage was solemnized.
After the marriage, Savitri left the palace of her father and went to live in the forest with Satyavan, his father, Dyumatsen, and his mother. As a devoted wife and daughter-in-law she took all the pains to take care of everybody in the house. They led a happy married life and soon a year passed.
One day Savitri realized that the day of Satyavan’s death as predicted by Narada has arrived. She started fasting from three days in advance. The day when Satyvan was destined to die, Savitri followed him to the forest. When he was cutting woods from a banyan tree (vat vriksha), he fell down and fainted. Savitri immediate realized that he is dying; she took her head in her lap and sat there awaiting next event.
Soon, she felt the presence of Yamraja, the God of Death, who arrived to take away the Satyavan’s soul. When Yamraja started going away taking his (Satyavan’s) soul; Savitri afflicted with agony started following him. Yamraja first ignored her, but Savitri persisted. Then, Yamraja tried a few tricks to persuade her to leave, but he could not deter Savitri. She kept following him.
Finally, Yamraja said that, since no way the life of a dead person can be returned, he is ready to grant her three boons to compensate her loss. Savitri agreed. Yamraja asked her to express her three wishes.
With the first boon, Savitri asked for the reinstatement of the kingdom her father-in-law with full glory; Yamraja granted. With the second boon, she asked for a son for his father, Aswapati; Yamraja fulfilled her will. Finally, with the third boon, she asked for children for herself; Yamraja without realizing the implications granted this boon too.
Then, Savitri said that since he (Yamraja) has granted her wish to have children, he should return his husband’s life because she cannot have children without her man. Yamraja realized his folly, but it was too late. He appreciated her devotion and determination, and returned Satyavan’s life.
Married women worship Vat vriksha and Savitri to show their appreciation towards Sati Savitri and to seek her blessings to be like her.
Customs and Traditions
Generally, women observe Vat Savitri vrat in a group. They observe fasting for three days and break it on fourth day. It starts on Trayodashi day and ends on Purnima or Amavasya. Some women observe it during Amavasya (new moon), whereas some women observe it during Purnima (full moon) in the month of Jyestha.
The number of days of fasting depends on the person’s will; there is no compulsion. Generally, women fast on the Purnima day only. There is no strict rule related to fasting either. Pregnant/ sick/ working women and new mothers are recommended not to observe fast. They should concentrate on prayers only.
On Trayodashi day, women apply paste of aamala (Indian gooseberry) and sarson/gingli (seasum) over their body and take bath. After taking bath, they apply vermilion (sindoor) over their heads and the parting of their hairs, wear new clothes and dress themselves in all the bridal outfits. Then, they eat roots of vat vriksha and drink water. Many women live on the roots of vat and water for three days.
Then, they perform Sati Savitri puja under and banyan tree with water, rice and flowers. After the puja, they go round and round around the banyan tree for 108 times tying yellow or red colour threads chanting prayers. Whole day they keep fast and pray for the well-being and long-life of their husbands. Even at home, a painting of banyan tree is drawn with the help of sandalwood or turmeric paste and worshipped for three days.
This routine is followed on Trayodashi, Chaturthi, and Amavasya/ Purnima. On the fourth day, women offer water to the moon and pray to Sati Savitri, and break their fast. Many women take the blessings of elders and other married women. Special dishes are prepared and distributed among family members and relatives after the puja. Some women do charity by offering food and clothes to the poor and the needy.
Observing fast helps us in many ways. On spiritual level, it helps to please the God by controlling and curbing one’s desires. On physical level, fasting helps us cleanse our body-system. Fasting once in fortnight helps our body pass out its toxins and wastes.
As a result, our mental system gets cleansed which enhances our mental clarity and meditation-power. Body’s energy gets distributed equally to the whole system. However, one should not overdo it. Fasting is supposed to create a feeling of buoyancy, and not a feeling of fatigue or sorrow.
Fasting controls our passion, disciplines the senses, and purifies the mind and the heart. It overhauls whole bodily system, destroys all sorts of poisons and encourages the rapid expulsion of uric acid deposits. When our body-system is clogged, we feel mood swings, depression, laziness, and unhealthful. Fasting helps to reinvent ourselves physically and mentally.
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