The Banyan tree is an evergreen fig which is known in Hindu mythology as the wish-fulfilling tree and the tree of life and fertility. Every year, in many parts of India, the festival of Vat Purnima¹ is observed. During those three days, women fast and pray for the well-being of their husbands, as they walk around a chosen Banyan tree and tie a thread around its trunk. This festival is associated with the legend of Savithri.
The legend of Savithri
The noble king Aswapati reigned over Madra, a prosperous country. As the years rolled by, worry gripped his mind, for he had no children. With the aim of seeking a boon, Aswapati undertook austerities and prayed to the goddess Savithri to appear before him. After eighteen years of penance, one fine day the goddess Savithri appeared and offered to grant the king a favor.
When Aswapati asked for many sons worthy of his lineage, the goddess Savithri smiled and said that he would soon beget a daughter of great energy. Saying so, she disappeared. Soon, the king's wife had a daughter, and he named her Savithri in honor of the goddess who had bestowed the gift.
When she came of age, Savithri resembled a celestial being, but she also possessed such a burning splendor that no man came forward to marry her. Ultimately, her exasperated father Aswapati told Savithri to find a partner for herself. Taking her father's words as a command, Savithri set forth on a journey to find her life partner.
In a distant forest, Savithri came upon a handsome young woodcutter. He was graceful in limb, tall, broad-shouldered, gifted with the strength of mad elephants, and free from fear or affliction. He had sparkling eyes and great sensitivity. It was love at first sight.
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