In the Northern Indian States, Vat Savitri Puja holds significant importance for women. On this day, Indian women hold fast and pray for their husband’s long life and good health.
One of the most important festivals in India, Vat Savitri Puja is also known as Jyeshtha Amavasya.
On this auspicious day, the Banyan tree is offered water and worshipped by all married women. They also read the Vrat Katha and remember the Almighty.
Vat Savitri Puja is mainly observed in the northern part of India on Jyeshtha Amavasya, in states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.
In Gujarat, Maharashtra, and other states in South India, this festival is observed on Purnima and is therefore called Purnima Vrat.
There is an interesting story behind Vat Savitri Puja that every woman should know.
There was a brave woman Devi Savitri who forced the Lord of Death, Yama Raj, in giving a new lease of life to Satyawan, her dead husband.
On this auspicious day, Indian women worship the Banyan tree as a part of the ritual.
The significance of this tree is that, as per Hindu mythology, the Banyan tree represents the holy trinity of ‘Brahma, Vishnu and Maheshwar’.
When devotees pray on this day, they’re blessed with good fortune.
Which God is Worshipped in Vat Savitri Puja?
Vat Savitri Puja is dedicated to Devi Savitri, who tricked the Lord of Death, Yama Raj, into granting life to her dead husband.
On this auspicious day, women across India worship the Banyan tree as it represents the holy trinity of ‘Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar’.
Vat Savitri Puja Samgri
The role played by the Banyan tree is very important in this festival.
According to Hindu mythology, Savitri is believed to have performed intense penance sitting under this tree to help bring her dead husband back to life.
‘Vat’ in Hindi means Banyan and hence, the name of this festival is ‘Vat Savitri Puja’.
Women perform puja by sitting under the tree and listening to the Katha.
And to perform the puja properly, you need to have the following Vat Savitri Puja Samgri:
- An earthen lamp
- A bamboo or cane basket is required to assemble the puja materials
- Flowers
- Paan and Supari
- Idols of Savitri and Satyawan
- Solidified sugar candies called Batasha
- Incense sticks (Dhoop)
- Ghee or mustard oil or sesame oil to fuel the lamp
- Darbha (a type of dried grass)
- Red thread (Kalava)
- Banyan tree fruits
- Cotton Wicks
- Banana and other fruits
- Kalash (made of copper, silver or brass) containing water
- Whole brown coconut with husk
- Kaccha Soot (for tying around the tree)
- Match Sticks
- Suhag Samgri (toe rings, kajal, bindi, saree, anklets, bangles, mehendi, nath, etc)
- Bhog (Soaked chana, Puris, and any dessert prepared at home)
- Two new pieces of cloth (one should be red and the other can be of any colour, except black or white)
- Dakshina (Coins and currency notes of different denominations)
- A hand-made fan of bamboo/cane
- Akshat, Roli, Kumkum, Chandan, and Haldi.
Vat Savitri Puja Vidhi
Given below is the detailed Vat Savitri Puja Vidhi that is observed in most states across India on Vat Savitri Purnima and Vat Savitri Amavasya.
Altogether there are 16 steps that women need to follow with full devotion to ensure they get the desired results.
1. Puja begins with women meditating before Lord Brahma and his consort Savitri.
Women perform dhyana before the statues of Lord Brahma and Savitri.
“Padmapatrasamasinam Brahmanam Cha Chaturmukham |
Upavitadharam Devam Sakshasutrakamandalum ||
Vamotsangata Tasya Savitri Brahmanah Priya |
Adityavarnam Dharmajnam Sakshamalakaram Tatha ||
Dharmarajam Pitripatim Bhutanam Karmasakshinam |
Kaladandadharam Devam Mahisharudhameva Cha ||
Chintayami Cha Devesham Sarvapranihitaya Vai |
Vinam Dadhanam Devarshim Naradam Chintayamyaham ||
2. Once dhyana is complete, Lord Brahma and Lokmata Savitri are invoked by chanting the mantra given below. While showing Avahan Mudra, even Satyavrata, his wife Savitri, and Yama Devata are also invoked.
“Brahmana Sahitam Devim Savitrim Lokamataram |
Satyavratam Cha Savitri Yamam Chavahayamyaham ||”
3. After Avahan is made, five flowers are taken and placed before the idols. A seat is made using flowers while chanting the mantra given below:
“Brahmana Saha Savitri Satyavatsahita Priye |
Hemasanam Grihyatam Tu Dharmaraja Sureshvara ||”
4. Now, water is used to wash the feet of Savitri, Lord Brahma’s consort, Lord Yama and Savitri, Satyavan’s consort while chanting the mantra given below:
“Gangajalam Samanitam Padyartham Brahmanah Priye |
Bhaktya Dattam Dharmaraja Savitri Pratigrihyatam ||”
5. Next up, water is offered to Savitri, Satyavan’s consort after Padya, for head Abhishekam. While doing this, devotees chant the mantra given below:
“Bhaktya Samahritam Toyam Phalapushpasamanvitam |
Arghya Grihana Savitri Mama Satyavratpriye ||”
6. Once the Arghya is offered, water is offered to Lord Brahma and Savitri while chanting the mantra given below:
“Sugandhi Saha Karpuram Surabhi Svadu Shitalam |
Brahmana Saha Savitri Kurushvachamaniyakam ||”
7. While chanting the mantra given below, a Panchamrita snana is given to Devi Savitri.
“Payo Dadhi Gritam Chaiva Sharkara Madhusamyutam |
Panchamrita Maya Dattam Snanartham Devi Grihyatam ||”
8. Once Panchamrita snana is over, water is offered to Savitri, consort of Lord Brahma, along with Dharmaraja Yama and Satyawan, and Savitri. While doing so, chant the mantra given below:
“Mandakinyah Samanitamudakam Brahmanah Priye |
Savitri Dharmarajen Snanartham Pratigrihyatam ||”
9. New cotton clothes are offered to Savitri, Satyavan’s consort after snana. While doing so, the following mantra is chanted:
“Sukshmatantumayam Vastrayugmam Karpasasambhavam |
Savitri Satyavatkante Bhaktya Dattam Pragrihyatam ||”
10. After offering clothes, Lokmata Savitri, Lord Brahma’s consort, Dharmaraja Yama and Savitri, Satyavan’s consort, are offered Upavita. The given below mantra is chanted while doing so:
“Savitri Satyavatkante Dharmaraj Sureshvara |
Savitri Brahmana Sarddhamupavitam Pragrihyatam ||”
11. Lord Brahma is adorned with jewellery after Upavita is offered. The following mantra is chanted while doing so:
“Bhushanani Cha Divyani Muktaharayutani Cha |
Tvadarthamupaklriptani Grihana Shubhalochane ||”
12. The following mantra is chanted after offering scent to Savitri Devi.
“Kumkumgurukarpura Kasturirochanayutam |
Chandanam Te Maya Dattam Savitri Pratigrihayatam ||”
13. After offering Chandana, Akshata is offered to Savitri Devi while chanting the mantra given below:
“Akshatashcha Surashreshthe Kumkumaktah Sushobhana |
Maya Nivedita Bhaktya Grihana Parameshwari ||”
14. After offering Akshata, Sindoor, Kumkum, and Haldi are offered to Savitri Devi while chanting this mantra:
“Haridrakumkumam Chaiva Sinduram Kajjalanvitam |
Saubhagyadravyasamyuktam Savitri Pratigrihyatam ||”
15. Flowers are offered to Devi Savitri while chanting the mantra given below:”
‘Malyadini Sugandhini Malyadini Vai Prabho |
Mayahritani Pujartham Pushpani Pratigrihyatam ||”
16. Gods that represent various body parts of Savitri are worshipped.
For this purpose, Pushpa, Akshata, and Chandana are taken in the left hand and the image of Savitri in the right hand.
Then the following mantra is chanted:
“Savitryai Namah Padau Pujayami |
Prasavitryai Namah Janghe Pujayami |
Kamalapatrakshyai Namah Kati Pujayami |
Bhutadharinyai Namah Udaram Pujayami |
Gayatryai Namah Kantham Pujayami |
Brahmanah Priyayi Namah Mukham Pujayami |
Saubhagyadatryai Namah Shirah Pujayami ||”
17. Lord Brahma and Satyawan are worshipped after Anga Puja of Savitri are completed.
Now, take Pushpa, Akshata, and Gandha are taken in the left hand and are placed near the idol.
In the right hand, images of Satyawan and Lord Brahma are taken and the following mantra is chanted:
“Dhatre Namah Padau Pujayami |
Vidhatre Namah Janghe Pujayami |
Srashte Namah Uru Pujayami |
Prajapataye Namah Medhram Pujayami |
Parameshthine Namah Kati Pujayami |
Agnirupaya Namah Nabhi Pujayami |
Padmanabhaya Namah Hridayam Pujayami |
Vedhase Namah Bahu Pujayami |
Vidhaye Namah Kantham Pujayami |
Hiranyagabhaya Namah Mukham Pujayami |
Brahmane Namah Shirah Pujayami |
Vishnave Namah Sarvanga Pujayami ||”
18. While chanting the mantra given below, Dhupa is offered to Lokamata Savitri
“Devadrumarasodbhutah Kalagurusamanvitah |
Aghreyah Sarvadevanam Dhupoayam Pratigrihayatam ||”
19. Next up, Deep is offered to Lokamata Savitri. While doing so, the following mantra is recited:
“Chakshurdam Sarvalokanam Timirasya Nivaranam |
Artikyam Kalpitam Bhaktya Grihana Parameshwari ||”
20. After offering Deep, Lokamata Savitri is offered Naivedya. This mantra is recited while doing so:
“Annam Chaturvidham Svadu Rasaih Shadbhih Samanvitam |
Maya Niveditam Bhaktya Naivedya Pratigrihyatam ||”
21. Lokamata Savitri is offered fruits, and the following mantra is chanted:
“Idam Phalam Mayadeva Sthapitam Puratastava |
Tena Me Saphalavaptirbhavejjanmani Janmani ||”
22. Paan and Betel Nuts are then offered to the Lokamata, and the following mantra is chanted:
“Pugiphalam Mahaddivyam Nagavalli Dalairyutam |
Karpuraila Samayuktam Tambulam Pratigrihyatam ||”
23. Dakshina is offered to the Lokamata, and the following mantra is recited
“Hiranyagarbha Garbhastham Hemabijam Vibhavasoh |
Ananta Punya Phaladamatah Shantim Prayachchha Me||”
24. After offering Dakshina, Lokamata Savitri is offered Pushpanjali, and the following mantra is recited:
“Savitri Cha Prasavitri Satatam Brahmanah Priye |
Pujitasi Dvijaih Sarvaih Stribhirmuniganaistatha |
Trisandhyam Devi Bhutanam Vandaniya Sushobhane |
Maya Datta Cha Pujeyam Tvam Griham Namoastu Te||”
25. Recite the following mantra while praying to Lokamata Savitri
“Savitri Brahmagayatri Sarvada Priyabhashini |
Tena Satyena Mam Pahi Duhkhasamsarasagarat ||
Tvam Gauri Tvam Shachi Lakshmistvam Prabha Chandramandale |
Tvameva Cha Jaganmatastvamuddhara Varanane ||
Yanmaya Dushkritam Sarvakritam Janmashatairapi |
Bhasmibhavatu Tatsarvamavaidhavyam Cha Dehi Me ||
Aviyogo Yatha Deva Savitrya Sahitasya Te |
Aviyogastathaasmakam Bhuyajjanmani Janmani ||”
|| Iti Vata Savitri Puja Vidhih Sampurnah ||
Why Do We Celebrate Vat Savitri Puja?
All the rituals and procedures are duly followed by women during Vat Savitri Puja to ensure their husband’s happy and long life.
Vat Savitri Puja greatly implies that a woman with purity and devotion has the power to even fight with the Lord of death, Yamraj.
It is a puja that gives the opportunity for the women to pray for a long and happy life for their life husbands.
Can unmarried Girl do Vat Savitri Puja?
Vat Savitri Puja is commonly observed by married women.
However, an unmarried girl can also perform puja to help find an ideal life partner.
It is one of the great prayers with Sankalp which has desired results.
Vat Savitri Puja 2022
Vat Savitri Puja 2022 will be observed on 14th June 2022.
