Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) is one of the most significant Hindu festival. Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) is one of the most important fast observed by married women for the long life of their beloved husbands & the well-being of their family members. Women observe this fast for the extended fortune & welfare of their husbands & family.
The Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) comprises of three different words – Vat (वटः), Savitri (सावित्री), & Vrat (व्रतम्) where; Vat (वटः) means the Banyan tree, Savitri (सावित्री) is the name of the chaste woman who fought against death to bring her husband back to life. And Vrat (व्रतम्) means a vow, a vow of observing fast. Together the Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) means a vow of observing fast & worshipping the Banyan tree & Goddess Savitri. Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) is celebrated on the full moon day of the Jyestha month (ज्येष्ठः पूर्णिमा), every year as per the Hindu Amavasyanta calendar & also on the no moon day of the Jyeshtha month (ज्येष्ठः अमावस्या), every year as per the Hindu Purnimanta calendar.
Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) is celebrated according to two Hindu lunar calendar - Amavasyanta & Purnimanta. The Northern states of India follow Purnimanta while the Southern states follow Amavasyanta calendar. Western states of Maharashtra, Gujarat & Goa celebrates this day on the full moon day – Purnima (ज्येष्ठः पूर्णिमा) i.e., on the full moon day of the Jyeshtha month & the southern states celebrate it on the no moon day – Amavasya (ज्येष्ठः अमावस्या) i.e., on the no moon day of the Jyeshtha month. In states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab & Haryana, Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) is observed on Jyeshtha Amavasya. This is due to the acceptance of different lunar positions.
Significance of the Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) –
As we all know that, Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) is connected to the worship of Goddess Savitri & the Banyan tree. The reason behind worshipping Goddess Savitri is that, she was the chaste woman & due to her chastity, knowledge & courage she won the heart of Lord Yama & brought her husband Styavan’s life back because of which every woman worships her. The Scriptures states that, we receive a part of which we worship so, when a married women worships Goddess Savitri on this day, they receive a part of her chastity, knowledge & her courage to save her husbands’ life & to bring prosperity & happiness to the family. So, this is the reason women worship Goddess Savitri on this day. Lord Yama (यम देवः) (the God of Death) is also worshipped on this day to gain the blessings for the long life of their husbands.
On this day, the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) is worshipped & there is also a significant reason connected to the same. The Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) is one of the most respected trees in Hinduism. It is considered as the national tree of India because of its longevity, tremendous medicinal qualities & it is mostly found in Indian sub-continents. As the Scriptures suggests, the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) is considered as the tree of the Deities. Explaining where which Deity resides on the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) the Scriptures stated that;
वटमूले स्थितो ब्रह्मा वटमध्ये जनार्दनः।
वटाग्रे तु शिवो देवः सावित्री वटसंश्रिता।।
Meaning - Lord Brahma resides in the root of the Banyan tree, Lord Vishnu resides in the middle part (in the form of the trunk) of the Banyan tree, Lord Shiva resides in the upper part (in the form of branches & leaves) while Goddess Savitri resides in the entire Banyan tree.
The Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) has large leaves, which are commonly used for worship & rituals. In Hinduism, the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) is qualified as a kind & generous tree that nourishes all. The Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) is mentioned in many ancient Hindu texts & scriptures, representing the divine creator & symbolizing longevity. According to the Hindu scriptures, the trees provide the fulfilment of wishes, which provides material & spiritual gains but, the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) is mostly known for the attainment of the spiritual aspects. The Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) symbolises eternal life, due to its unending expansion. It is the symbol of immortality as it has the capacity to survive for thousands of years. It has aerial roots that grow down from its branches forming additional trunks which touches the ground.
The Hindu religion refers two types of reality; the Material reality which is temporary & the Eternal reality which is permanent. Trees like the coconut & banana fit in the first category as they represent the life cycle, continuously dying & renewing itself; while the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) represents the later, it is like the soul, neither dying nor renewing. The Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) also represents the spiritual aspirations, as it is immortal (अक्षयः) & it can survive the destruction of the world (प्रलयः) too. The Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) is considered equivalent to the ascetic, since the ascetic is more inclined to the spiritual aspirations than materialistic life.
Also, according to the Science, the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) has a special characteristic of purifying the environment by eliminating harmful gases. The bark of the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) is a good immune boosting agent & helps to develop immunity. The aerial roots of the Banyan tree have anti-bacterial & astringent properties which is effective against most oral health problems. The fruit of the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) contains polyphenol which acts as an antioxidant which helps to fight the cancer cell. Thus, its fruits are beneficial for curing any type of cancer. There are such numerous scientific benefits of the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः). For more details about the Banyan tree, its significance & scientific benefits please click the below link to read our old article on “Why Hindus worship the Banyan tree?”
http://kaivalyahinduism.com/blog/details/35
As stated above, the Scriptures states that, we receive a part of which we worship so, as the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) thrives for hundreds of years, & this is the reason the Banyan tree is worshiped for the attainment of long life, good luck, continuous growth & also for growth of materialistic as well as a spiritual path.
Though Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) is mainly observed by married women, unmarried women can also celebrate this festival. Unmarried women worship the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) & Goddess Savitri for the attainment of an ideal life partner.
History of Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) –
The story of Savitri & her husband Satyavan has been narrated in the Mahabharata (Aranyaka-parva, chs.277-283), Matsya Puranam (chs.277-283) & Devi-Bhagwata Mahapuranam (Skandha 9, chs.26-38).
The narrative goes like this; Ashvapati, the king of Madra country was childless so he worships Goddess Savitri & pleases Her with the help of a sacrificial ritual. The Goddess reveals herself & offers him a boon. He wishes for a son for continuing his dynasty, while Goddess Savitri grants a worthy daughter. The queen Malavi (wife of Ashvapati) gives birth to a daughter who is given the name Savitri. She grew up to be a very beautiful woman & was given the liberty to marry a man of her choice. She chooses Satyavan, the son of the king Dyumnasena. To this, Sage Narada informs her father that she has chosen the best man, but he is not suitable for her because he has short-span. Even after learning about Satyavan's short lifespan, Savitri decides to marry him. Later, Ashvapati meets Dyumnasena & express his wish for Savitri & Satyavan’s marriage, but Dyumnasena did not accept this proposal & informs about his condition that he doesn’t have his kingdom, nor royal power & no eyesight. But still Ashvapati succeeds in convincing Dyumnasena.
Soon Savitri & Satyavan gets married. She was the loyal & righteous wife; she engaged herself in the service of her husband & parents-in-law. Time passed by & she gets worried for her husband’s lifespan. Three days before Satyavan’s predicted end of life, Savitri decides to do penance by fasting. She observes fast for her husband’s life, meditates upon Goddess Parvati & worships the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) with an intention to save her husband’s life. On the 4th day of her fasting, both Satyavan & Savitri went to the forest to get some woods for household activities. While both of them were engaged in working suddenly Satyavan gets a headache so, Savitri places his head on her lap & asks him to rest for a while, both of them were sitting under the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः). Just after that, she sees Lord Yama (यम देवः) (the God of Death) in front of them & Lord Yama throws his noose & seizes Satyavan’s soul & leaves for his capital city. Observing this, Savitri covers her husband’s body & follows Lord Yama. Lord Yama (यम देवः) sees her following him & urges her to go back.
But in return she asks him that why he didn’t send his servant for this job & instead he came himself? Lord Yama (यम देवः) gives the reason that Satyavan was righteous person who was engrossed in worshipping gods, sages, Brahmins & his parents, thus he himself came to take his soul & asks her to go back. But instead, Savitri started praising Lord Yama. Lord Yama (यम देवः) gets pleased by her & offers a boon except her husband’s life so, Savitri asks for her Father-in-law’s eyesight & his lost kingdom back & Lord Yama fulfills her wish by releasing him (Dyumnasena) from the bondage of Karma. Then she gets an opportunity to question him about the theory of Karma. Lord Yama (यम देवः) (the God of Death) explains her about the theory of Karma & from that she asks a question about the sin committed by her father (Ashvapati) due to which he is a son-less king. Lord Yama gets pleased by her intelligence & offers her another boon except her husband’s life. Savitri wishes to have 100 brothers who live for 100 years, to this Lord Yama promises to fulfil her wish & offers her one last boon & then return back. She then very cleverly discloses her wish for having 100 sons. As she was a chaste & faithful wife, she will never have a child with another husband so Lord Yama (यम देवः) (the God of Death) laughs to this & appreciates her cleverness & gives her husband’s life back.
Because of this historical event, the married Hindu women still observe this vow, worships the Banyan tree & Goddess Savitri, keeps fast for the long life of their husband. This vow is known as Vat Purnima (वटपूर्णिमा) or Vat Savitri Vrata (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) & it is extensively celebrated in India.
Ritual ceremony of Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) –
Vat Savitri Vrat (वट-सावित्री-व्रतम्) is the Indian Hindu fasting day for the married women who pray to the Banyan tree in honour of Goddess Savitri for fortune, well-being, long life & prosperity of their husbands & peaceful married life. This is a three-day fasting vow, but some women observe fast only for one day. On this day, after taking an auspicious bath in the morning, married Hindu women dress up in a bridal garment wearing elegant jewellery, Mangalsutra, bangles, anklets, applying red turmeric powder on the forehead & in parting of hair. They maintain a strict fast throughout the day & night. They offer water, rice & flowers to the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः), sprinkle the red turmeric powder, tie the trunk of the tree with white cotton threads & circumambulating the holy Banyan tree 108 times or according to the devotee’s wish.
The idol of Savitri & Satyavan is also placed along with Lord Yama’s idol & the puja rituals are performed while worshipping the idols. Later, Vat Savitri Vrat Katha (A story of Savitri & Satyavan) is read along with other married women followed by performing aarti of the idols & the Banyan tree. Later, the fruits are offered to the Banyan tree & the idols of Savitri, Satyavan & Yama which is later distributed among the married women.
These lovely married women are determined to remain loyal to their spouse & cherish being with their present husband even in the next birth. Vat Savitri Vrat is, thus, the symbol of dedication & commitment to marital bliss. This whole ritual is done under the Banyan tree.
If the Banyan tree is not available in your state, a stick of Banyan tree is dugged in soil & even the stick is not available, a portrait of the Banyan tree is made on wood with turmeric & sandal wood paste & worshipped.
On this day, married women are also worshipped by applying red turmeric powder, rice on forehead & offering fruits & clothes. Donating food, fruits & clothes to the needy is also done on this day. Clothes, bangles, Mangalsutra, nose pin, earring, anklet, toe ring, red turmeric powder, etc. are donated to the Brahmin’s wife along with Dakshina (money) or offered to the Goddess temple. This fast is broken next day after sunrise only.
Thus, women celebrate this Vrat with immense joy & dedication. As Goddess Savitri is the symbol of womanhood, chastity, loyalty, love & eternal bond of husband & wife, women observe this day strictly & with full dedication to obtain the blessings of Savitri & the Banyan tree (वट वृक्षः) which blesses them the eternal bond with their husband & the long & prosperous life of their husbands. This is not just a festival or any other general fasting day but, this day increases love, bond, prosperity & happiness of the couple & their family. Also, this is yet another festival, which is not just a mere religious belief but, it has its connection with the spiritual as well as scientific reasons.
फाल्गुनः कृष्णपक्षे ११, २०७८