On Purnima or Punam (the full moon day), the divine firmament is under the celestial sovereignty of Shravan Nakshtra. That’s why it is called Shravan. Each day during this month has auspicious significance for worshipping Lord Shiva. Prayers and Vedic rituals are performed in Shiva temples to please him during Sawan Maas. Various festivals take place in this month like Naga-Panchami, Govatsa, Shravani Purnima, Vara Lakshami Vrat, Rishi Panchami, Raksha Bandhan, Kalkyavatara and Putradaikadashi.
Northern Indian states like Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh celebrates fifteen days before the southern states.
Since it is the most auspicious period. The devotees take advantages by worshipping Lord Shiva. During Shravan, the world is super charged with Shiva elements that purify the mind, the senses, the body and the self through the rituals dedicated to Lord Shiva. The different Pujas are performed by qualified Brahmins.
Significance of Shravan Month
The people observe austerities, fasts and prayers during the holy month of Sawan. This is the auspicious time when Lord Shiva drunk the poison ‘Halahala’ that came out from Samudra Manthan between the Devas and Asuras for the quest of the ambrosia. At the time of Manthan, the ocean produced lots of valuables such as gemstones, Goddesses riches, cows, bows, the Moon, conch etc. Which was taken by demons and Gods. The gems which were emerging from the ocean were fourteen in number and divided by them. When the Ocean produced the murderous poison called Halahala, which was too dangerous to destroy the universe and Lord Shiva decided to drink it to save the world. His wife saw him taking Halahala, she at once held His throat so that the poison wouldn’t go down. Ergo, His throat turned blue and He was called 'Neelkantha'.Spiritual Activities During Shravan Month
In the month of Shravan, Various spiritual activities are performed like Pujas, Sadhanas, meditation or Bhajans at homes or in Shiva temples. During this month, each day has its own spiritual significance like..
- Monday: is the day to worship Lord Shiva.
- Tuesday: women worship Gauri for the better health of their family.
- Wednesday: is dedicated to Vithala, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu or Krishna.
- Thursdays: are for worshiping Buddha and Guru.
- Friday: for worshiping Lakshmi and Tulsi.
- Saturdays: are for Saturn (Shani Dev). These days are also known as Shravan Saturdays or Sampat Sanivara (wealth Saturdays) as one can pray for obtaining wealth.
- Sundays: are for the Sun god. Sun worship was common practice in the Vedic period and it is followed even now. Especially in Shravan, every Sunday the Sun is worshipped.
Auspicious dates of Hindu festivals during Shravan Month 2016:-
- Madhushrava Tritiya – August 5
- Durva Ganapati Vrat – August 6
- Nag Panchami – August 7
- Kalki Jayanti - August 8
- Sheetala Saptami – August 10
- Varalakshmi Vrat – August 12
- Rig Shravani – August 18
- Narali Purnima and Raksha Bandhan – August 18
Important Things to do in Shravan Maas
As per Vedic Astrology, Shravan month is very auspicious in Hindu religion and You can engage various activities during this month that shows your devotion to Lord Shiva.
Rudra Abhishek And Homa:-
The word Rudra refers to terribly infuriate, which is one of the divine qualities of Lord Shiva who displays it while performing His colossal dance, Tandava for the annihilation of creations. Due to this special quality, Lord Shiva is called Rudra. Abhishek means a method of worship offered to Shiva for cleansing all the misgivings, sins of the devotees.
Shiva Abhishekam includes Panchamrit (mix of milk, honey, sugar, ghee and curd, Ganga Jal, ghee, Bael Patra (Bilva leaves), Dhatura and other sacred items to Lord Shiva.
Rudra Abhishek and Homa purify the mind and body of devotees, offers peace, fulfills your desires and enlightens your soul.
Mantra Chanting
ॐ नमः शिबाय||
Om Namah Shibay||
“I am None other than Shiva who is the supreme reality. Na-Ma-Ha, means None other than”
Mahamrityunjaya Mantra:-
tryambakaṃ yajāmahe sugandhiṃ pushtivardhanam ।
urvārukamiva bandhanān mrityormukshīya mā'mratāt ।।
“OM! We worship the Three-eyed Lord Who is fragrant and Who nourishes and nurtures all beings. As the ripened cucumber (without the intervention of the gardener) is freed from its bondage (to the creeper), may He liberate us from death for the sake of immortality.”
Rudra Gayatri Mantra:
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय बिध्याहि महादेवाय धीमहि तन्नो रूद्र: प्रचोदयात||
Om Tatpurushaya Vidmahe Mahadevaya Dhimahi Tanno Rudrah Prachodayat॥
“OM! Let me meditate on the great Purusha, Oh, greatest God, give me higher intellect, and let God Rudra illuminate my mind.”
Apart from this, you can read stories about Lord Shiva, read the Shiva Purana and meditate on His holy form. This is true Bhakti.
Fasting For Lord Shiva On Mondays During Shravan Month
Two Ways in which fast can be observed and they are:
- Austere Fast: In this fast, a person does not eat anything in an entire day except for drinking water. The fast is broken in the evening after sunset and regular food without onion and garlic is consumed.
- A Partial fast: In a partial fast person can eat fruits and permitted foods like Sabudana and nuts in the day and eat one time meal in the night.
Another type of fasting is that you can keep a ‘Maun Vrat’ (Silence) on one whole day in this month and remember Shiva in your mind.
Advantages of Shravan Somvar Fasting During Savan Maas
- Devotees are blessed with spiritual bliss
- Improves physical and mental health
- Increases willpower and memory
- Women who fast on Shravan Mondays (Somvars) get their perfect husband
- Fasting removes obstacles by expelling negativity
Well written and an informative post! I have a keen interest in this topic and have written several blogs on Hindu calendar and zodiac sign, as well. You can check them at mPhanchang.
ReplyDeleteNice article you have shared such a important information about the Lord Shiva on the Mondays of Saawan keep writing.
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