Vat Savitri Vrata : Guarantees Marital Harmony
Beginning on the thirteenth lunar day in shuklapaksha, when the nakshatra Bhadrapada is in the sky, one fasts for three days and recounts the story of Savitri and Satyavana. (This story can be found in other Puranas and in the Mahabharata. Savitri’s husband Satyavana had died. Savitri convinced Yama of her devotion and persuaded the god of death to bring her dead husband back to life) .
Newly married women visit a nearby Vat tree and worship it by tying red threads of love around it. They offer flowers and sweets to the tree. When the moon rises full and resplendent on the horizon, special feasts are shared by families.
Vat Savitri Vrat (Bad Mavas): Sat, 12 June
Vat Savitri Vrat (Purnima) : Sat, 26 June
वट की परिक्रमा करते समय एक सौ आठ बार या यथा शक्ति सुत लपेटा जाता है। ‘नमो वैवस्वताय’ इस मन्त्रसे वटवृक्षकी प्रदक्षिणा करनी चाहिये। सावित्रीको अर्घ्य देना चाहिये और वटवृक्षका सिंचन करते हुए अपने सौभाग्य की प्रार्थना करनी चाहिये। चने पर रुपया रखकर बायनेके रुपमें अपनी सासको देकर आशीर्वाद लिया जाता है। सौभाग्य-पिटारी और पुजा सामग्री किसी योग्य ब्राह्मणको दी जाती है।
Vat Savitri Vrat Katha : The story of Savitri & King Satyawan
Savitri, one of the most venerated women of Indian mythology. Savitri was a princess, born by the blessing of the sun god to King Ashwapati. A lustrous woman of great beauty, she was sent to the forest ashrams of sages to look for a suitable bridegroom for herself. Eventually, she met Satyawan, a prince living in the forest because his blind father had been banished from his empire. When Savitri revealed to her parents her determination to marry Satyawan, the court astrologers tried to stop her. They said that the prince’s lifeline clearly showed that he would die within a year. Savitri had however, accepted him as her husband and would not be deterred from her resolve. She married him and went to the forest ashram to live with him and his parents.
On the full moon night of jyeshtha, the couple went into the jungle to collect firewood. As Satyawan rested under a Vat tree, Yama, the god of death came to snatch away his life. Savitri, seeing Yama take away her husband’s breath, followed, pleading with him to return her husband’s life. At each milestone, going from earth to heaven, Yama tried to persuade the determined princess to return home and accept the destiny of her husband as unchangeable. In the face of her resolve to conquer what appeared to be insurmountable obstacles, all his efforts were in vain. Then, to persuade her more effectively, he offered her three boons, excluding the life of her dead husband. Savitri, a woman of great intelligence, couched her requests in such a manner that she got back everything that her family had lost.
First, she asked for the lost sight of her blind father-in-law. Next, she asked for their lost empire and prosperity. And finally she asked for worthy progeny. When Yama had granted her the boon of progeny, she reminded him that his boon could not be fulfilled without Satyawan. Yama, defeated by her strength and faith, had to surrender the life force of Satyawan to her, and bless her with an immortal place in the hearts of her people.
Today, Savitri’s power and her tenacity to overcome insurmountable problems remains an inspiration for every woman. She is venerated on the jyeshtha full moon day which is named after her and the tree under which this legend unfolded.
The observance of this vrata guarantees marital harmony.
3:41 pm
Dear Ganga jee,
We want to plan mundan ceremony for
- our son Yoditya Bakshi ( born on 30th Dec 2005, 05:08pm, CHANDIGARH ) and our daughter Yashasvi Bakshi ( born on November 12th 2007. at 08:50 AM, CHANDIGARH)
together some time in July 2008. Pls suggest a suitable date for us to plan the mundan ceremony and any PUJA for their long life, health, education and prosperity..
Would really appreciate your help on this.
12:01 pm
Hare Krishna
Shri Bakshiji..
Unfortunately there is no Muhurtha for Mundan Sanskar during May to Dec 2008.
In absense of muhurtha, generally people performs the same during Navaratra, Akshaya Tritiya, Basant panchami or any auspicious(festivals) day at SHAKTI PEETHA, Vaishno Devi, Siddha Mata Mandir or any Tirth Sthan like Haridwar & Kashi .
If the child’s mother is preganent, then do not perform mundan sanskar before the age of 5.
Mundan Sanskar must be performed at the age of 1,3,5,7 or in any odd years.
Do not perform mundan of elder child during Jyestha Maas (May-June)
6:46 pm
Hare Krishna Ganga jee,
Really appreciate your quick response. We live in Chandigarh and nearest Shakti Peeth options for us is Mansa Devi temple in Punchkula, Jwala Jee in Himachal & Vaishno Devi temple. Mundan ceremony also requires a havan to be performed, can it be done/ required to be done at such places?
A local priest has suggested 17th July as a date to perform Mundan or wait till November- ( Navratras). The elder one is already 2 yrs and 6 months while my daughter is just 7 months.
for my son, will you recommend us to wait til 30th dec ( when he completes 3 yrs) – he is already in school and is finding it difficult to manage long locks of hair.
I would appreciate if you can offer a specific instruction on time & place to perform Mundan either for one or both of them.
warm regards
12:39 pm
Hare Krishna Gangajee
I want to do Mundan Sanskar of my Son Ishan Anand Dwivedi born on 27th July 2007 at 3:48PM in Jodhpur Rajasthan. Please suggest. Would appreciate a quick reply since he will be completing hios 1 year soon. A local preist suggested as 11th of July as a suitable date
12:44 pm
Hare Krishna
Meenuji…
Unfortunately there is no Mundan Sanskar Muhurtha till next year (the last one was on 24th april 2008).
so it would be appropriate to wait till 3rd year of your son.
Now the Surya is southwards (dakshinayan).
everyone is asking for 11th July, why?
Shukra Uday is on 11th & a date before Dev Shayan (i.e 13 july),
this is the only reason that their local pundits are suggesting 11th July.
i do not agree with this date, be it Shaadi or Sanskar.
because “Shukra’s Balkya Avastha” will end on 14th July.
and no muhurtha can be taken in His Balkya Avastha.
1:45 pm
Hare Krishna Ganga ji
Thanks for quick reply. Actually my son has a skin problem due to which doctor’s suggest to perform his mundan. so if you think there is any date on which we can do it please suggest.
1:51 pm
sorry just to add can we do that on 14th july
5:21 pm
Hare Krishna
meenuji..
if that is the case, you have no option but to go with local pundit’s advice.
do it on 11th july.
not on 14th
1:06 pm
Hare krishna gangaji
just to add we are planning Ishan’s mundan on 11th so what should be the time or muhrat for that day, and we are currently at jodhpur should it be done here or will you suggest some other place.
Regards
Meenu
1:29 pm
Hare Krishna
meenuji..
Jodhpur is not a Holy Place where you will do mundan sanskar of your child, when muhurta is not certain.
if possible, pls perform it at your Kul Devta’s Mandir or go to Haridwar…
Avoid 10:00AM to 11:59AM, Abhijeet Muhurta will be good.
1:50 pm
Hare krishna Gangaji
Thanks for a quick response. I guess going to these places may not be possible. If it can be performed on 13th July then we can go to haridwar. please suggest suitable date and time
3:52 pm
@Meenu Sarawgi Dwivedi:
Hare Krishna
Meenuji..
be it Haridwar or Jodhpur, do it on 11th not on 13th
13th is Devshayani Ekadasi
6:18 am
Hare Krishna,
I would like to perform my son (born April 25, 2006) and my daughter (born March 21, 2001) on Aug 1, 2008 – in the evening. I live in the USA. Please let me know if that day is ok…Sincerely, Dipali
9:25 am
Hare Krishna,
I would like to perform Mundan for my son (born April 25, 2006 at 1:13 PM) and my daughter (born March 21, 2001) on Aug 1, 2008 – in the evening. I live in the USA. Please let me know if that day is ok…Sincerely, Dipali
-please ignore the post just above – it was incomplete.
1:45 pm
@Dipali:
Hare Krishna
Dipali…
please…please don’t perform mundan ceremony on August 1, 2008.
Who suggested you?
you can carry on mundan sanskar during Navaratra only.
Right Now there is no Muhurtha.
8:26 pm
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!
5:23 pm
it is mentioned that MUNDAN can be performed during NVARATRI this year. Can it be performed on DUSHMI (i.e. Dusheera)? If not then which day (out of nine days) is best suitable for mundan.
-ashish
11:55 am
@ashish:
Hare Krishna
Ashish..
No, mundan can’t be performed on Dushera.
any date of 2,4,5,6,8 Oct 2008 and abhijit muhurta would be fine to do the same.
10:23 am
Adarniye ganga ji,
i reside at patna i want to perform the mundan of my son who is 4 yrs and 9 month during Navratra at Deoghar(jharkhand) can i do the same. regards
amarendra kumar singh