वट सावित्री अमावस्या के पूजन की प्रचलित कहानी के अनुसार सावित्री अश्वपति की कन्या थी, उसने सत्यवान को पति रूप में स्वीकार किया था। सत्यवान लकड़ियां काटने के लिए जंगल में जाया करता था। सावित्री अपने अंधे सास-ससुर की सेवा करके सत्यवान के पीछे जंगल में चली जाती थी। एक दिन सत्यवान को लकड़ियां काटते समय चक्कर आ गया और वह पेड़ से उतरकर नीचे बैठ गया। उसी समय भैंसे पर सवार होकर यमराज सत्यवान के प्राण लेने आए। सावित्री ने उन्हें पहचाना और सावित्री ने कहा कि आप मेरे सत्यवान के प्राण न लें। यम ने मना किया, मगर वह वापस नहीं लौटी। सावित्री के पतिव्रत धर्म से प्रसन्न होकर यमराज ने वरदान के रूप में अंधे सास-ससुर की सेवा में आंखें दीं और सावित्री को सौ पुत्र होने का आशीर्वाद दिया और सत्यवान को छोड़ दिया। इसी वट वृक्ष के नीचे सावित्री ने अपने पतिव्रत धर्म से मृत पति को पुन: जीवित कराया था. तभी से यह व्रत ‘वट सावित्री व्रत’ के नाम से जाना जाता है। वट पूजा से जुड़ी धार्मिक मान्यता के अनुसार तभी से महिलाएं इस दिन को वट अमावस्या के रूप में पूजती हैं।

Long ago, a King called Ashtapati had a beautiful daughter named Savitri. Unlike other Kings, Ashtapati gave permission to his daughter to marry a boy of her own choice. Once, while roaming in the forest, Savitri met a young man called Satayavan, who was carrying his blind parents in two baskets atop a stick. Impressed with his devotion towards his parents, Savitri decided to marry him and laid this proposal in front of her father.

The King loved Satyavan, but he learnt that he was the son of a deposed King and it was predicted that he will die within a year. However, on Savitri’s insistence, he got them married off.

The two had a happy life and soon a year passed. Sensing that the day of her husband’s death was near, Savitri took him to the forest where he suddenly collapsed.

Savitri panicked and met the God of death Yama, who had come to claim the soul of Satyavan. As Yama was leaving with Satayavan’s soul, Savitri followed him everywhere. Yama explained to Savitri that mortals cannot travel to heaven and that she should allow him to leave this world with her husband’s soul. Savitri refused saying that she will follow her husband everywhere. Yama relented and said that he will grant her 3 wishes (that did not include asking for her husband’s life) post which she should allow him to go. Savitri agreed. The first wish was that her in-laws be re-instated in their kingdom. The second wish was that she wanted a brother for self and a son for her father. The third and final wish was that she wanted to have children to which the Yama happily granted a “Yes”. To this Savitri explained that since she can only have children from her husband, the Yama should give back his life. The Yama knew he had been tricked and he had to adhere to Savitri’s demand.

Satyavan and Savitri hence lived happily ever after.