The Story of Vat Savitri Katha

The Story of Vat Savitri Katha

On this day, married women fast for the long life of their husbands. The story of Vat Savitri fast is described in Skanda Purana. In Skanda Purana, the story of Goddess Savitri bringing back her husband's life after the death of her husband Satyavan has been mentioned in “Vat Savitri Vrat Katha(वट सावित्री व्रत कथा)”. It has been said about this story that this fast is going to provide good fortune. Therefore, on the day of Vat Savitri Vrat, married women should recite this story of Vat Savitri Vrat in detail under the banyan tree and married women should listen to this story. This prolongs the life of the married person and brings love and happiness and prosperity in married life. Vat Savitri Vrat Katha is an important story in Hindu religion which is observed as a fast by married women for the long life of their husband and happiness and prosperity of the family. The main characters of the story of this fast are Savitri and Satyavan. One day, Goddess Parvati said, hey! Lord Shankar, the ruler of the world, tell me the character of Savitri Devi, the beloved of Brahmaji located in “Prabhaskshetra(प्रभासक्षेत्र)”.

Then Lord Shankar said, Oh! Mahadevi, Devi Savitri's character is very beautiful, appreciated, and divine, I am telling you listen meaning fully.

Who is Devi Savitri

There is a country named as “Madra”, there lived a pious king who was always ready for the welfare of all living beings. His name was Ashwapati. Despite being pious, forgiving and truthful, the king was childless. Once that king Prabhas was traveling in the area and came to Savitri Sthal. There the king along with his queen observed this fast which is known as Savitri Vrat which fulfills all the wishes. Savitri Devi was pleased with that king. Suddenly, Savitri Devi appeared, with holding Kamandalu, and assured to fulfill their wishes then disappeared again. But due to the virtue of having darshan of the Goddess, after a few days, a girl with the same form as the Goddess was born in the house of King Ashwapati, who was born from the part of Goddess Savitri. The girl child who was born with the pleasure of Goddess Savitri and was born after worshiping Savitri, was also named her Savitri. The princess started growing as beautiful as Goddess Lakshmi and gradually the girl with delicate body parts attained puberty. Seeing that girl, the kingdom people thought that she was one of the goddesses. Savitri was very beautiful and charming and famous for her eyes as big as lotus and burning as bright as fire.

After a few days, one day when Maharishi Bhrigu(महर्षि भृगु) was going on the way, Savitri asked him, Hey! Sadhu Maharaj, I salute you. Then Maharishi Bhrigu, seeing such a divine girl, turned to her and blessed her. Then Savitri asked, please tell me such a few secrets so that I can wish for the long life of my husband after marriage. Then Bhrigu Rishi advised him to observe Savitri Fast and she started observing

Savitri Vrat as per his instructions.

One day, the girl, decorated like Lakshmi, stood near her father after worshiping Goddess Savitri. At that time, the king seeing that his daughter had attained adulthood, the king consulted his ministers.

After this the king said to Savitri. Hey daughter! The time has come to give you away to a worthy groom. No one comes to me to ask for you and even after thinking about it, I am not able to find a groom matching your soul. Therefore, oh my daughter! You do this so that I do not become condemnable before the gods. I have read and heard in religious scriptures that if a girl, living in her father's house, gets menstruated before marriage, then her father feels that it is a big sin.

Therefore hey my lovely daughter! I am sending you to find your own suitable groom. Go quickly with the old ministers and obey me, after this, saying 'it will happen as you say', Savitri left the house and went towards forest with the royal sages. After reaching there, after paying obeisance to the respected elders, visiting all the pilgrimage centers and ashrams, Savitri returned to her palace along with the ministers. Here Savitri saw Devarshi Narad sitting with her father. After paying obeisance to Narad while sitting on the seat, she started talking to him smilingly about the work for which she had gone to the forest.

Savitri said, Hey Naradji! in the country of Shalva, there is a Kshatriya king known as “Dharmatma Dyumatsena”, who has become blind due to divine blessings, one of his feudal lords named Rukmi has snatched the kingdom from him and he is living in the forest with his son and wife. His son's name is Satyavan, who is truthful and religious, I have chosen him in my mind as my husband.

After listening to the words of Savitri, Narad said, Oh king! Savitri did this very painful thing due to his childlike mind, she chose Satyavan only considering him virtuous. Satyavan makes clay horses and makes a picture of the horse. Due to this he is also called Chitrashva. Satyavan is like the disciple of Rantidev in his charity and virtues, he is a protector of Brahmins and is truthful. The king is as generous as Yayati, as lovely as the moon, as handsome as the second Ashwini Kumar and as strong as Dyumatsena, but he has only one fault.

The King seeing that Narad remained silent, the king asked, what kind of fault is in Satyavan, Devarshi Narad? Please tell me in details. Narad said, hey king! Satyavan has everything, he is beautiful to look at, he is courageous, he is a man of religion, he is willing to serve Brahmins. But as per the karma of the previous life, exactly one year from today he will die suddenly.

The king was shocked. Hearing this from Naradji, princess Savitri said to the king. The king who has taken a decision on something has spoken only once. Brahmabetta is said only once and the girl is given only once. These three actions are performed only once and not again and again. Be it long life or short life, good or bad, I have taken the name of my man, and I have chosen the groom only once. Now I will not choose another groom. I will not marry anyone else.

Savitri gets Married Satyavan

Naradji said, O King! If you feel it is appropriate, then perform “Kanyadaan” of your daughter Savitri as soon as possible. The king got Savitri married to Satyavan at an auspicious time. Savitri was happy on getting her husband in the same way as a virtuous man is happy on getting heaven. While staying in the ashram with Satyavan, Savitri used to remember what Narad had said and kept counting the day when Satyavan would pass away.

When only three days were left for Satyavan's death, Savitri decided to keep fast and on the third day, she took bath in the morning, worshiped the gods and ancestors, then after worshiping the feet of her mother-in-law and father-in-law, she also went towards the forest with her husband. Started walking. While cutting wood in the forest, Satyavan suddenly started having a headache. Savitri said that you sleep with your head in my lap for some time and then we will go towards the ashram. As soon as Satyavan lay down in Savitri's lap, Savitri saw that he was dark, pink-complexioned, wearing a crown, wearing yellow clothes. Men who have risen like the real sun are standing in front of them.

Savitri bowed to him and asked him who he was. I am the king of Yampuri, Yamraj, who is terrible for all living beings and always gives them appropriate punishment according to their deeds. So oh devoted Savitri! Your husband lying nearby has expired and this thing is also known to you very well. We will not be able to take him away with the help of Yamdutas, that is why I have come to take Satyavan.

Saying this, Yamraj forcefully took out the soul from Satyavan's body. After this started walking towards Yampuri. Savitri also started following Yama. Yamraj told Savitri that no living being can go through the path of Yama without ending his life, you also know this very well, hey Yamaraj! This is against Srishti.

Savitri gets Three Boons from Yama Deva

Savitri told Yamraj that, I am walking with a gentleman like you, my husband is with you so I am not feeling any shame or guilt in walking with you. Secondly, there is no place for women in this world except their husband. That's why I'm following you. Hearing the sweet words of Savitri, Yama said that I am pleased with your words, so ask for whatever boon you wish.

Savitri then asked Yamraj for her lost husband, the eyesight of her mother-in-law and father-in-law, and the boon of a hundred sons. Trapped in the net by his boon, Yamraj freed Satyavan's soul and returned Savitri.

Savitri returned to her ashram with her husband. Savitri observed a fast of Savitri Devi, due to which the eyesight of her mother-in-law and father-in-law returned. He also got his kingdom and had a hundred sons.

Shivji has also said to Goddess Parvati that, hey Devi! On the day of Savitri fast, one should take bath in the morning and take blessings of one's mother-in-law and father-in-law.

Vat Savitri Puja Vidhi

• Sitting near the banyan tree, invoke the Panchdeva(पंचदेव), such as Ganesh, Durga, Shiva, Vishnu and Sun are called Panchdevta.
• Take three kush and sesame seeds and invoke Lord Brahma and Goddess Savitri. “Om Namo Brahmana Saha Savitri Ihaagaccha Iha Tistha Supratisthita Bhava” or ॐ नमो ब्रह्मण सह सावित्री इहागच्छ इहा तिष्ठ सुप्रतिष्ठितो भव.
• After this do Sankalp, for what you are doing this Vrat.
• After this, offer water, Akshat, vermilion, sesame seeds, flowers, garland, naivedya, betel leaves.
• Take a mango or any other fruit and offer water over it to the Vat. This should be fed to the common man as Prasad.
• Circumambulate the banyan tree 7 or 21 times while wrapping it with raw cotton thread. By the way, circumambulating the banyan tree 108 times is considered the best.
• This fast should be broken with “black gram”. Because it is said that Yamraj had returned her husband's life to Savitri in the form of black gram.