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Shiva is ‘shakti’ or power, Shiva is the destroyer, the most powerful god of the Hindu pantheon and one of the god heads in the Hindu Trinity. Known by many names – Mahadeva, Mahayogi, Pashupati, Nataraja, Bhairava, Vishwanath, Bhava, Bhole Nath – Lord Shiva, in temples is usually found as a phallic symbol of the ‘Linga’, which represents the energies necessary for life in both worlds, that is, the world in which we live and the world which constitutes the whole of the universe.
Mahadeva is worshiped by millions of devotees around the world but there are two most auspicious occasions when worshiping lord Shiva is considered most fruitful. First is the eve of ‘Shivratri’. When winter is still lurking around and a touch of the spring comes into the air, comes the ceremonial night of Shivratri – the night of Lord Shiva. A fast is kept by devotees of lord Shiva, especially the women.
The other assured time to please lord Shiva is the Shravana Mas or Sawann month also known as Shravan mahina, a very auspicious Hindu month. The month of Sawan is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar beginning from Chaitra, and is the most auspicious month of the Chaturmas. On Purnima or full moon day, or during the course of the month the star ‘Shravan’ rules the sky, hence the month is called Sawan or Shravan. This month is spread out with innumerably religious festivals and ceremonies and almost all the days of this month are auspicious.
2016 Sawan Somwar Vrat Dates
Sawan Somwar Vrat Dates for Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar
20 July (Wednesday) First day of Shravana Month
25 July (Monday) Sawan Somwar Vrat
01 August (Monday) Sawan Somwar Vrat
08 August (Monday) Sawan Somwar Vrat
15 August (Monday) Sawan Somwar Vrat
18 August (Thursday) Last day of Shravana Month
Sawan Somwar Vrat Dates for Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
03 August (Wednesday) First day of Shravana Month
08 August (Monday) Sawan Somwar Vrat
15 August (Monday) Sawan Somwar Vrat
22 August (Monday) Sawan Somwar Vrat
29 August (Monday) Sawan Somwar Vrat
01 Sept. (Thursday) Last day of Shravana Month
Each and every day during the Shravana Maas has some significance. Each Monday of this month, known as Shravan Somvar, is a special day in Shiva temples where the Dharanatra hangs over the Linga or the idol to bathe it with holy water, day and night. Devotees pile the Linga high with Bel leaves and flowers and fast till sunset. No other Mondays of other months are so greatly honored. The belief is that in Sawan month, offering milk to Lord Shiva earns a lot of punya. As per the Indian tradition, “Kaavad Yatra” is organized in this month. “Kaavad Yatra” is an auspicious rally organized by devotees of Lord Shiva in Shravan (Sawan) month. In the Kaavad Yatra, saffron clad ‘kavadias’ collect holy water from a Tirth Sthan (a place of pilgrimage) and carry it back to the temple of Lord Shiva to perform puja (worship) and Abhishek of Lord Shiva. Kavadias bring this holy water in a brightly decorated Kaavad (a wooden stick with pots or cans of water at each end).
Each Kavadias tries to do the Abhishek of lord Mahadeva on a Shravan Somvar as it is the most auspicious time and every wish of the devotee is said to be granted by lord Shiva on this day. Doing these rituals and worshiping Mahadeva at nearest temple during this time phase can also increase your prospects of wish fulfillment. But chanting of Rudra Aashtadhyayi along with performing Abhishek of lord Shiva on a Monday of Shravan Maas is said to give to the devotee anything that he or she asks for. This is a golden chance for you, as you can seek blessings of lord Shiva through the divine ‘RUDRAM CHAMKAM YAGNA’. There will be recitation of Shukla Yajurvediya Rudra Aashtadhyayi in this yagna along with Abhishek of shiv Linga. The Rudra Chamakam is a Vedic Stotra dedicated to Rudra, an earlier aspect of Shiva and Chamakam assures granting of what we ask. A person who wants immediate relief from health problem, those who are childless or those facing problems in getting married or those facing financial crisis or if those having some wish to be fulfilled within a short span of time can perform this yagna.
Lord Shiva and Sawan
The churning of oceans “Samudra Manthan” between Dev (Demi-Gods) and Danav (Demons) took place in the month of Sawan, fourteen different types of rubies came out. Thirteen of these were distributed amongst the Dev and Danav’s, except Halahala (poison). Lord Shiva drank the Halahala and stored it in his throat. Hence the name Neelakantha (meaning blue throat) is attributed to Shiva.
To reduce the strong effect of poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. All the Dev (Demi-Gods), thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to reduce the effect of poison.
Ever since, this event took place in the month of Sawan, all devotees offer the Ganges water to Lord Shiv especially during this month.
It is highly auspicious to wear a Rudrakash in Sawan month. As, Mondays or Somvar of Shravan month are specially observed with austerity. All Mondays are devoted to the worship of Shiv as this day is sacred to Lord Shiv. No other Mondays of other months are so greatly honoured.
Shree Hindu Temple always performs special Shiv Abhishek on each Monday of Shravan mas (month).
Significance of Sawan
Shravana month is called as Shravan because the star on the Purnima of this month is Shravana. The month is called with the name of star (Nakshtra) on the full moon day or Purnima.
The goddess, responsible for wealth, prosperity, happy married life is Goddess Lakshmi. She is the wife of Lord Vishnu. The birth star of Lord Vishnu is Shravana and hence this is one of the favorite months of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that by praying to Lord Vishnu in Shravan month would fetch them a lot of happiness and blessings of the Lord. Since Shravana Month is favorite to Vishnu it is also a favorite to Goddess Lakshmi. To seek the blessings of goddess Lakshmi one has to worship her in the Month of Shravana.
Shravan month is an embodiment of wealth, happiness and prosperity. It is also a favorable month for Marriages and other functions. Hence one should keep their homes neat. One should also put Rangoli in front of their houses. As a tradition, one should also put Turmeric and Kumkum to the door foots (Gadapa). It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi would like to reside in a house with Rangoli in front and which is neat and clean inside.
The following are the significant festivals that are celebrated:
Shravan Somvar
The Mondays (Somvar) of Shravan Month are one of the favorite days of Lord Shiva. Devotees fast on the four Mondays of this Shravan Month and do Abhishek to Lord Shiva reciting Namakam and Chamakam. It is believed that worshipping Lord Parvati with Kumkum on this day, women will never be widowed.
Mangala Gauri Vrath
For all the Mangala (good things) Goddess Gauri is responsible. It is believed that by performing Mangala Gauri Vrath, married women would not be widowed and would be blessed with a happy and prosperous married life. Girls who are not married would be blessed with good husbands. It is believed that Goddess Gauri resides in all the Mangala (one that are symbols of good) things like flowers, sandalwood paste, Turmeric, Kumkum, scents, wick that is lit using cow ghee etc. Hence other married women are welcomed on this day and are disturbed the above things. While offering them the above thing, women believe as if they are offering it to the Goddess Gauri herself.
Naga Panchami
It is one of big festivals in India. It is believed that by worshipping the Snake by the people with problems like who are not getting married because of Kuja Dosha , people who are having gynaec problems (problems with womb) would be solved.
Bhanu Saptami
It is believed that by worship the Sun on this day one would be blessed with health and fitness.
Putrada Ekadashi
It is believed that people used to observe the Putrada Ekadashi Vrath for children. It is advised to donate umbrella on this day.
Daamodarah Dwadasi
On this day reciting Vishnu Sahasranama and other related poems of Lord Vishnu is advised. One would be blessed with happiness and prosperity.
Rakhi Purnima or Jandhyala Purnima
This day a Brahmin has to change his sacred thread called Jandhyam. Rakhi Purnima also marks the day of the relationship of Brother and Sister.
Krishnashtami
The birthday of Lord Krishna is also in Shravana Month. It is advised to worship Lord Krishna on this day and offer milk, curd, butter as Naivedyam.
Kamika Ekadashi
It is believed that the wishes of devotees are granted, if one observes the Kamika Ekadashi Vrath. One should donate Butter on this day. This donation would get better results than any other donation to the donor.
Things to do during Shravan month
During the Shravan month, offering milk to Lord Shiva earns a lot of punya.
- Wear Rudrakash, and also use a Rudrakash mala for Japa.
- Offer Lord Shiva Bhibhuti and place some on your forehead.
- Make offerings of Bel leaves, Panchamrut (Milk, Yoghurt, Ghee – clarified butter, Honey and Jaggery) on Shiva Ling.
- Recite Shiv Chalisa and Aarti
- Chant Maha Mrityunjay Mantra
