Vat Purnima & The Story Of Savitri and Satyavan

Vat Purnima 27 June Wednesday 2018

Also known as Vat Savitri, Vat Purnima is celebrated by married women, primarily in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. On this occasion, married women observe the Vat Savitri Vrat and tie threads around a banyan tree and pray for the same husband in every birth. Lastly, they must return home, take blessings of their husband, and break their fast in the evening.

The celebration is derived from the story of Savitri and Satyavan. According to mythology, Savitri was the daughter of a rich king and she was married to Satyavan, a poor man who's father's kingdom had fallen and whose parents were blind. When Savitri and Satyavan got married, Narad had informed Savitri's father to that Satyavan had a short lifespan, however on Savitri's insistence, her father agreed to her marriage with Satyavan.

Savitri observed a fast, just four days prior to the date given by Narad for Satyavan's death. On the given date of Satyavan's death, Savitri accompanies him to the forest to cut wood where he gets a severe headache while climbing a tree and lies down in Savitri's lap. Yamaraj then arrives to take Satyavan's soul ad starts leaving with his soul. Yamaraj notices Savitri following him and asks her not to do so, but she continues chasing Yamaraj, insisting that she wants to accompany her husband. Impressed by Savitri's love for her husband, Yamaraj tells Savitri to ask for some boon. Savitri first asks for the eyesight of her parents-in-law, then restoration of their lost kingdom, and also a hundred children for herself and Satyavan. Impressed by Savitri's wish, Yamaraj grants her all the boons including Satyavan's life. Savitri soon returns to the Banyan tree and finds Satyavan sitting alive. Thus, Savitri gets reunited with her husband and thereafter they spent a happy married life.