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The Story of Satyavan and Savitri

Listen to the story of Satyavan and Savitri by clicking below


This is a story of love and dedication. According to legend, when Savitri’s husband Satyavan died, Savitri tricked Lord Yam, the lord of death, and compelled him to bring her husband back to life. Therefore, married women in India observe Vat Pornima Vrat for well-being and long life of their husbands. This Vrat, or fast, occurs in the months of May or early June, just before the arrival of the monsoons. Curiously enough, married women in Maharashtra, Gujarat and southern Indian states observe Vat Savitri Vrat 15 days later than that of North Indian women. In 2018, Maharashtra and Karnataka, this ceremony is observed on June 27th, the day we release this episode. The Story of Satyavan and Savitri is one of the many tales narrated in the Mahabharat.
You can read the story we have used for the narration on our sister site Mythsandlegends.ml.
Feature Image: Satyavan and Savitri by Raja Ravi Verma. Public Domain Image obtained from Wikipedia.  If you like this story, please leave a review on your favourite podcasting app or website. Myths, Legends and Fairytales of India Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcast, BookMyShow Jukebox, and other fine podcasting sites. Visit mlftpodcast.in to learn more. Or, you can write to us at contact at gaathastory dot com and we will be happy to talk to you!
 
About this story:

The story of the princess Savitri is one of the best-known and best-loved tales of India. Traditionally, Hindu women celebrate an annual festival in Savitriʼs honor to secure a long and happy married life.
The story is found in the Mahabharat one of the two great ancient epics of Indiaʼs Hindus. It appears in Book 3, “The Book of the Forest,” where it is related as an instructive tale to Yudhisthir, one of the epicʼs heroes, by the wise
hermit Markandeya.
The story of Savitri itself most likely started out as a folktale before its insertion in the epic. Along with the rest of the Mahabharat, it then underwent a number of changes and additions over the centuries.
In its final version, the story shows elements of a number of historical periods, and with very different cultures. The story likely was first written around 800 B.C. The Mahabharat places the story in “the kingdom of the Madras,”
No, not the Madras in Southern India, but the region between the present-day rivers Chenab and Ravi, tributaries of the Indus. This region is today situated mostly in northeast Pakistan, and partly in the Indian states of Jammu and Kashmir. In the ancient times, the capital of this kingdom was Sakala—near the modern Pakistani city of Sialkot, in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Image Source: Satyavan and Savitri By Raja Ravi Varma and A.K. Joshi & co.Bombay [Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons