Shravan, also called Sawan, is supposed to be the holiest month of the Hindu calendar. The month of Shravan is considered special as it is important from a religious, natural, and cultural point of view. Monday of Shravan is considered Shiva’s favorite day.
In the Hindu religion, the whole month of Shravan is dedicated to worshiping Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. There is an eternal belief that if you worship Shiva in the month of Shravan, you will get the same reward as if you worship all the deities. There is a religious belief that if one fasts in the month of Shravan, Lord Shiva blesses the devotee with good health and longevity and fulfills various wishes for oneself and one’s family.
Women go to the Shiva temple early in the morning to worship Shiva, seeking his divine blessings. Hindu devotees keep the whole day fast and worship Lord Shiva every Monday (Sombar) of Shravan month to seek his divine blessings. Many devotees observe sixteen Mondays (Solah Somwar) fasting from the first Monday of Shravan month.
Shravan Somvar (Monday) 2023 Fasting Dates
- 17 July 2023
- 24 July 2023
- 31 July 2023
- 7 August 2023
- 14 August 2023
Significance of Monday
The holy month of Shravan and even Mondays have special features. According to astrology, Shiva is the lord of Monday, fasting and worshiping Shiva on this day is considered special. There is a story in the Puranas that Parvati got Mahadev as her husband due to the effect of fasting on Mondays.
The fast of Shravan Monday is celebrated in a special way. Women who do not fast also wear green bangles and yellow clothes. Shivalayas across the country are crowded with young women and girls dressed in green and red robes.
Water is very dear to Shiva, so there is a tradition of offering holy water to the Shivalayas by male and female devotees on Mondays this month. According to religious scripture, Lord Shiva is also worshiped to prevent heavy rains, floods, and landslides during the month Shravan.
Why Green Color
According to Vedic scripture, Green is Lord Shiva’s favorite color. Green also signifies life. Due to the greenery of trees and plants, nature also becomes green in Shravan month. Green is also considered a symbol of love. So in Shravan month, women wear green-colored clothes, bangles, and mehendi and worship Lord Shiva.
Yellow color is considered to be a sign of purity. The red color is considered to be a symbol of good luck. That is why devotees worship Shiva every Monday in Shravan by wearing red, green, and yellow clothes and bangles.
Monday Fasting Method
Fasting on Monday is similar to other fasts. This fast starts from sunrise and lasts until the third hour. At the third hour of the day i.e., around three o’clock, one should worship Shiva and listen to the story.
One should get up early, take a bath and wear clean clothes. Don’t wear black clothes and eat only one meal.
While preparing the pooja plate, colored powder, camphor, incense stick, Datura flower (jimson weed), honey, raw milk, bilva leaves, etc. should be offered. The green and yellow flower is Shivaji’s favorite. Red flowers should not be offered to Lord Shiva.
On the day of fasting, sattvic food should be eaten once in the evening. Yogurt, fruit juice, lemonade, and potatoes can be eaten. However, fish, meat, eggs, garlic, onion, lentils, etc. should not be eaten.
Historic Importance of Shravan Month
According to Hindu Scripture, two main incidents have taken place in the month of Shravan.
- First, Shiva drank the Halahal vish (poison) during this month, and Indra, the god of rain and thunder, offered continuous rain to calm down the effects of halahal. Religiously, this is the reason for the tremendous rainfall in Shravan.
Secondly, Sati did self-immolation in the Yajna organized by Daksha in Shravan month. It is believed that worshiping Shiva in Shravan month is 108 times more powerful than worshipping during normal days.