Savitri Brata

Savithri Amabasya is also known as Savitri Brata. Savithri Amavasya is an important fast (brata) observed by married women in Orissa. Fasting on the no moon day in the Hindu month of Jyestha is day is considered highly auspicious. It is observed by all married women for the well-being of their husbands. Women performing the puja have to observe fasting during the day and read out or listen to Savirti Brata Katha which is a poetic rendition of how Maha Sati Savitri saved her husband from the clutches of Yamaraj by dint of her virtues and devotion. It is a custom for women to receive money on the occasion from their parents  towards expenses for the puja.

How to observe Savitri Brata ?

Women wake up early morning on the Savitri Brata day and after taking bath, wear new clothes and ornaments including bangles. All married women wear red vermillion on the forehead, which is elongated to touch the line parting the hair. Savitri is symbolically represented by the grinding stone, locally known as Sila Pua. The grinding stone is thoroughly cleaned and worshipped. Bhoga or offering to Savitri consists of rice, wet pulses and locally available fruits like mango, jackfruit, banana etc.

The fasting begins at sunrise and ends after sunset with the evening prayers. In some places, parents, elders and brothers give a token amount of money to fasting woman.Women take the blessing of parents and other elders. The fast is broken by consuming the offering made to Savitri. Women also make it a point to read or listen to the Savitri and Satyabana story mentioned in the Mahabharata.

Sabitri Brata Fasting Story

King Ashtapati had a beautiful and intelligent daughter named Savitri. The King gave her the permission to choose her husband. One day, Savitri met a young man in the forest who was carrying his blind parents in two baskets balanced on either side of a stick. The young man was Satyavan. Impressed by Satyavan’s devotion towards his blind parents, Savitri decided to marry him. On enquiry, the King found out from Sage Narada that Satyavan was the son of a deposed king and that he was destined to die in a year.

King first refused to give permission for the marriage but Savitri was adamant. Finally, the King relented and the marriage was conducted and the couple left for the forest. They led a happy life and soon a year passed. Savitri realized that the date Sage Narad had predicted that Satyavan would die will fall in three days time. Three days before the predicted day of death of Satyavan, Savitri started fasting.

The day Satyavan was destined to die, Savitri followed him to the forest. While cutting woods from a Vat Vriksha (Banyan Tree), he fell down and fainted. Soon, Savitri realized that Satyavan is dying. Suddenly she felt the presence of Yama, the god of death. She saw him carrying the soul of Satyavan and she followed Yama. Yama first ignored Savitri thinking that she will soon return back to her husband’s body. But she persisted and kept on following him. Yama tried few tricks to persuade her but nothing worked. Savitri remained adamant and said that she will follow her husband where ever he goes.

Then Yama said that it is impossible for him to give back the dead as it is against the nature’s law. Instead, he will give her three boons and she should not ask to return her husband’s life as a boon.

Savitri agreed.

With the first boon she asked that her in-laws be reinstated in their kingdom with full glory.
With the second boon she asked for a son for her father.
Finally, for the third boon she asked ‘I would like to have children.’

Yama immediately said ‘granted.’

Then Savitri said, ‘now that you have granted me the boon of having children please return my husband as I can only have children from him.’ Soon Yama realized that he had been tricked by Savitri, a pativrata. Yama remained silent for a minute and then smiled and said ‘I appreciate you persistence. But what I liked more was you readiness to marry a man whom you loved even though you knew that he would only live for a year. Go back to your husband he will soon wake up.’ Soon Savitri returned to the Vat Vriksha were her husband was lying dead. She started going round (pradakishna) the Vat Vriksha and when she completed the pradaksihna, Satyavan woke up as if from sleep. Soon Savitri and Satyavan were reunited. People worship Vat Vriksha and perform Savitri puja in memory of this event.