Sawan is considered to be the holiest month because worship and worship of Lord Bholenath have special significance in the month of Shravan. According to the English calendar, the month of Sawan falls in July-August. This year in 2023, Shravan, the most beloved month of Lord Shiva, is starting on 04th July.
Get More Information About Shravan Month 2025: Dates, Significance, Puja Vidhi and Fast Rituals Here.
Shravan month fasting – Monday of Sawan
There are two types of fasts observed by the devotees in this holy month of Sawan: Sawan Somwar Vrat: The fast observed on Monday in the month of Shravan is called Sawan Somwar Vrat. Monday is also dedicated to Lord Shiva. Sixteen Somvar Vrat: Sawan is considered a holy month. Therefore, it is considered a very good time to start fasting on Solah Somvar.
Dates of Shravan Maas for North Indian States
- Shravana Begins *North: Tuesday, Jul 04, 2023
- First Shravan Somwar Vrat: Monday, Jul 10, 2023
- Second Shravan Somwar Vrat: Monday, Jul 17, 2023
- Third Shravan Somwar Vrat: Monday, Aug 21, 2023
- Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat: Monday, Aug 28, 2023
- Shravana Ends: Friday, Aug 31, 2023
Dates of Shravan Maas for South Indian & West Indians States
- Shravana Begins *South: Friday, Jul 18, 2023
- First Shravan Somwar Vrat: Monday, Aug 21, 2023
- Second Shravan Somwar Vrat:Monday, Aug 28, 2023
- Third Shravan Somwar Vrat: Monday, Sept 4, 2023
- Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat: Monday, Sept 11, 2023
- Shravana Ends: Saturday, Sept 15, 2023
Sixteen Mondays of Sawan Month
Starting from the first Monday, this fast is continued for sixteen (16) consecutive Mondays. This process is known as Solah Somvar fasting.
That is why the fast of Sawan Somwar is known to be of utmost importance. Lord Bholenath is most dear. During this month, there is a tradition of fasting on Monday and taking bath in Sawan. Worshipping Lord Bholenath with Bel leaves and offering water to him in the month of Shravan is considered very fruitful.
When devotees observe fast on Monday, Lord Shiva fulfils all their wishes. During the month of Sawan, lakhs of devotees visit many religious places in India including Haridwar, Deoghar, Ujjain, and Nashik to visit Jyotirlinga.
With the rainy season in the month of Sawan, the whole earth is covered with greenery. In Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat, the festival is celebrated as Nareli Purnima on the last day of the month of Shravan.
Shravan month fasting and worship method
-Take a bath in the morning before sunrise.
-Place an altar at the place of worship.
-Go to Shiva temple to offer milk to Shivling.
-Then take a vow of Mahadev’s fast with full devotion.
-Pray to Lord Shiva in the morning and evening.
-Light a lamp of sesame oil for worship and offer flowers to Lord Shiva.
-Offer betel nut, Panch Amrit, coconut and bael leaves to Lord Shiva.
Get More Details of Shravan Somvar Shiv Pooja According to Your Zodiac Signs.
Benefits of fasting in the month of Sawan
Sawan month is dedicated to Shiva. Therefore, a devotee who observes the fast of Mahadev with a sincere heart and full devotion surely receives the blessings of Shiva. Married women also keep a fast of Shiva in Sawan to make their married life happy and unmarried women for a good groom.
Kanwar yatra
In this holy month, Lord Shiva travels through the devotees to Kanwar. Hundreds of Shiva devotees visit Shivnagari Haridwar and Gangotri Dham located in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. He carries a Kanwar full of Ganga water from these pilgrimage places on his shoulders and later he offers Ganga water to Bholenath. The devotees who take part in this yatra are called Kanwariyas or Kanwariyas.
Kanwar Mythology
According to mythological belief, it is said that when the churning of the ocean between gods and asuras yielded 14 gems. One of those fourteen gems was poison, which feared the destruction of the universe. Then to protect the universe, Lord Bholenath drank that poison and did not allow it to go down his throat. Due to the effect of poison, the throat of Bholenath turned blue and hence his name was Neelkanth. It is said that Ravana brought Gangajal to Kanwar and anointed the Shivling with the same Ganges water and then Lord Shiva got freedom from this poison.
Here are Some Interesting and Surprising Facts About Hindu Mythology Read More.
Mantra in Sawan Chant
Om Namah Shivaya during Sawan.
Story of Sawan Vrat
The bridegroom of that princess was one-eyed, this fact was kept hidden from the king’s family by the family members of the groom. He was afraid that if the king came to know about this, then this marriage would not take place. To avoid this, the family members of the groom requested Amar to become the groom of falsehood and he could not refuse their request. In this way, Amar married that princess, but Amar did not want to deceive that princess. That’s why he wrote all the things in the princess’s chunri with complete truth. When the princess read Amar’s message, she accepted Amar as her husband and waited until she returned from Kashi. Amar and his maternal uncle left from there towards Kashi. Amar, on the other hand, was always engaged in religious activities. When Amar was exactly 12 years old, he was offering bael leaves to Bhole Nath in the Shiva temple.
By bringing these 5 things home, Bholenath will be happy and happiness, good luck and prosperity will increase
1- Rudraksha – To increase happiness, good luck and prosperity on the first day of Sawan, wearing the original Rudraksha in silver fortified will be very auspicious and will increase good fortune.
2- Water pot – On the first day of Sawan, if you buy a silver, copper or brass water pot, then it will be very auspicious. Keep this vessel filled with water and offer it to Lord Shiva, then God will be pleased with it.
3- Silver moon or pearl- Lord Shiva wears a silver bracelet on his feet. In such a situation, if one buys a silver bracelet on the first day of Sawan, then it becomes auspicious for pilgrimage or foreign travel.
4- Silver Vilbapatra- Everyone offers Vilbapatra to Shivling in Sawan, but sometimes it becomes difficult to get pure and unbroken Vilbapatra, in such a situation, you can offer water to Lord Shiva with silver Vilbapatra. By doing this, lakhs of sins are destroyed and auspicious coincidences are made for every work.
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