This is the festival on which many jokes and funny messages are sent by most of Hindu people. After reading this post, you will be surprised by the Biological knowledge of our ancestors. They were so advanced in the science of the Human Body that they made the provision of this festival as a Vrat. A very catchy story was developed, the story of Satyavan and Savitri. So most ladies will perform this Vrat for the long life of a husband. This story is nothing but the advertisement of this Vrat 😄. You all may know the story but very few know the scientific facts behind this Vrat. So here we are going to find out, What is Vat Purnima or Vat Savitri? Why do we celebrate it? What are the benefits of it? Some Do's and Don'ts. It is very important to understand this. Otherwise, our next generation will stop celebrating it by considering it a superstitious belief.
What is Vat Purnima or Vat Savitri and when do we celebrate it?
Vat means Vatvruksha or Banyan tree. The meaning of 'Vat' is प्रचंड or very big. So Vatvruksha means a very big tree. We celebrate this Vrat on the full moon of Jyeshtha, Marathi month. Generally, it comes in the month of June every year. This is the Vrat celebrated on Purnima under the Banyan tree, so it is called Vat Purnima. It is also known as Vat Savitri because of the famous story of Savitri.
What is the story behind Vat Savitri?
It is believed that there was a king named Ashwapati. He prayed to Goddess Savitri. He named his daughter as Savitri. Savitri got married to Satyavan. The priests predicted that Satyavan will lose his kingdom and die after a year of marriage. The same thing happened. But Savitri didn't give up. She followed Yamraj (the God of death). He offered her three boons to not follow him. She asked for the lost kingdom, visions for her blind in-laws and a brave son. Yamaraj granted her three boons. Then she replied politely that she is the Prativrata and how the third boon will be completed without the life of her husband? Hence, Yamraj had to spare the life of Satyavan.
The story is very promising. If a woman will perform this Vrat then her family will be blessed with wealth and prosperity and her husband will be having a long and healthy life. So every married woman would like to perform this Vrat. And here is the twist, why our ancestors wanted that every married woman should perform this Vrat? Why they wanted every married woman to go to Banyan Tree? What was the science behind it? Let's find out.
Why do we celebrate Vat Purnima?
The Banyan tree has a special status in our religion. We find Banyan trees in most of the villages. In olden days, the Panchayat used to be held under this tree. This tree is the National Tree of India as it signifies strength and unity. The fact is this tree is found all over India irrespective of weather, soil and climate.
What are the benefits of Vat Purnima Vrat?
There are only three Indian-origin plants that release oxygen 24 hours - Banyan, Tulsi and Neem. Apart from this feature, there are many special features of the Banyan tree. It has medicinal properties and spiritual significance. Most of the saints used to do Tapasya under Banyan Tree.
In ancient times, married women used to stay in their houses for the whole day. They used to worship Tulsi plant and had access to the Neem plant to use its leaves as pesticides for their grains. But these women had no access to Banyan trees. Generally, the banyan trees in the villages were occupied by males for their gatherings. So married women could not go near the banyan trees. This problem was not faced by girl child. So this Vat Purnima Vrat is the provision so married women could go near the banyan tree and would have all the benefits of it. This Vrat used to be followed for three days which is reduced to one day now. Women would do it for their husbands so males in the villages couldn't oppose this and had to allow them to gather near the Banyan tree to perform pooja.
The main objective of this Vrat is to bring married women in contact with the Banyan tree just before the start of the Monsoon to keep their health in good condition for the rest of the year. After all, their health is very important for the family. Previously, this Vrat was followed for 3 days.
Why married women observe fast on Vrat Purnima?
Observing fast is the best way of physical purification. They can absorb maximum positive energy emitted by the Banyan tree if they are on fast.
Why do we tie the thread to the Banyan tree?
The thread which is made up of cotton becomes the bridge to transfer positive energy from the trunk of the Banyan tree to the women's body, so she will be connected to the tree to get maximum energy. At the same time, the Banyan trees are very important for the environment. When we put kumkum on the stone, it becomes holy for us. Same way, the sacred thread protects the tree from being cut by the woodcutters. They consider it a sin to cut the worshipped tree. In this way, the big Banyan trees are protected since ancient times.
Our ancestors thought so much about the environment. We observe 'International Environment Day' on 5th June. Our ancestors were protecting the environment through different Vratas and traditions.
Why do women offer fruits to the Banyan tree?
Why do women pray to get the same husband for seven lifetimes?
There is no mention that a human being gets 7 births, but we do believe that a human being keeps taking birth until he reaches to salvation. So here comes the biological knowledge of our ancestors. Each cell of our body gets regenerated and after every 7 years our body renews itself and our bones renew itself after every 10 years while some muscles take 12 years. This is proven scientifically now. That means after every 12 years we have a new body. This will be called a new birth of our body. If you multiply 12 years by 7 births then it comes 84 years. In ancient times, girls used to get married at the age of 13 years and boys at the age of 16 years. So ultimately they were praying for 100 (84+16) years of life for their husbands.
So a newly married girl performing Vat Savitri Vrat used to say that she would get the same husband for 7 births means her husband would live for 100 years.
What is the intense knowledge of biology! That too without any degree, laboratory, equipment and experiments. On top, this knowledge was available to ordinary people in society.
Without understanding the logic behind our traditions we make jokes about it and like to show that our ancestors were stupid. But once we test our traditions scientifically then we come to know that we are the big fools who fail to understand the science behind our traditions.
Do's on Vat Purnima
1. Observe fast for physical purification.
2. Have fruits to detoxify your body.
3. Spend more time underneath the Banyan Tree.
4. Conduct spiritual activities like pooja underneath the Banyan tree.
5. Do meditation. Recite the sholka, यथा शाखाप्रशाखाभिर्वृद्धोऽसि त्वं महीतले। तथा पुत्रैश्च पौत्रैश्च सम्पन्नं कुरु मा सदा।।
6. Inhale deeply and hold your breath for 5 seconds and exhale. Do it 7 times.
7. Remind good qualities of your husband and think of positive things like long life, good health, prosperity for your husband and family.
8. Visit the Banyan tree once every month for maximum benefits.
Don't on Vat Purnima
1. Do not try to show off a heavy sari and jewelry.
2. Do not gossip with other women.
3. Do not wrap the thread tightly to the banyan tree.
4. Do not cut the branches of the banyan tree for Vrat. There will be no benefits. It will create harm to nature.
5. The purpose of this Vrat is to spend time underneath the Banyan tree. If you do not have access to the Banyan tree then for satisfaction you can draw Banyan tree with white rangoli and place the rounded thread on its trunk.
Vat Purnima brings us near nature, helps us to develop good values like love, loyalty and affection towards our life partner and tightens the bond between husband and wife who are the backbone of our family system. If today's generation will observe Vat Purnima with the right intentions then who knows there will be fewer chances of divorce.
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1 Comments
Very Nice information......
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