Guided Chakra meditation

Vat Savitri/ Vatpoornima

In Hinduism, Vatpoornima is celebrated with great enthusiasm by married women. Jyeshtha Pournima is also known as Vatpoornima. Why we perform this pooja only on Jyeshtha Pournima? the reason is Vat vruksha (banyan tree) has the thickest shade than all other trees. Continuous water is dripping out from Vat vruksha (banyan tree) therefore, the land under Vat vruksha (banyan tree) is always moist. And For this, the shadow of Vat vruksha is extremely beneficial.

Now another question comes up here is why we worship Vat vruksha (banyan tree)?
River water, Vat vruksha (banyan tree) shade and mud house are all cool stuff in summer and hot in winter. If there was a house with these three things, there would have been no need for cooler or AC. It means Vat vruksha gives us most calm and coolness. Looking at scientific  perspective of Vat vruksha or Vad (banyan tree), it is the tree which always emits oxygen. People worship banyan tree. It is assumed that Tridev i.e. Brahma, Vishnu, Mahesh lives in the Vat vruksha. At the same time, Goddess Lakshmi can be also pleased by worshiping the Vat vruksha. Therefore, Vat vruksha (banyan tree) is very important in Hinduism. In North India it is called Vat Savitri Vrat and in South India it is called Vat Pournima Vrat.

Vat Savitri Vrat are performed by married women (Suvasini) on the Jyeshtha Pournima day. Married women perform the Vat Purnima Vrat on this auspicious day to ensure the health and long life of their husbands and they offer prayers to the ‘Vat’ (Banyan) tree.
Some women do fasting for three days as part of this Vrat. The three-day fast begins two days before Jyeshtha Pournima. However, those who cannot fast for three whole days, they should fast for only one day. In this vrat of three days, the pooja of the Vat vruksha should be performed daily. On the third day of the pooja, worship the Vat vruksha by doing some rituals like offer Panchamrit with a mixture of ghee, milk, honey, curd and sugar, then offering pure water. Women offer turmeric-kumkum (हळद-कुंकू), flowers, fruits. Incense, lamps, offerings should be offered followed by Aarti.  prayer of Savitri follows the Pooja, following is the prayer:-

Savitri Brahmasavitri Sarvada Priyabhashini |
Tena satyena mam pahi duḥkha-sansara-sagarat|
Aviyogo yatha deva savitrya sahitasya te

Aviyogo tathasmakam bhuyat janmani janmani ||

After that,
Vaṭamule sthito brahma| vaṭamadhye janardana|
Shivo Devaha Savitri Vatsanshrita||

One of the purposes of Vatpoornima worship is to give thanks to nature, a celebration of nature's gratitude with the prayer.

Happy reading....
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