Why we celebrate shravan

According to Hindu mythology, when the gods and demons were churning the ocean samudra manthan , poison came out in the month of Shravan. As with all gifts from the ocean, this too had to be accepted, though none wanted to.

Lord Shiva consumed the poison — even though he was not a part of the churning — to help out the gods and held it in his throat, which turned it blue. According to another school of belief, Monday fasts in this month ensure good prospective husbands for unmarried girls and good health for husbands of married women.

They believe Parvati observed fast for the entire month of Shravan before Lord Shiva was impressed and married her. The destination for kanwar journeys are Shiva temples and are ideally done on foot. The month ends with Raksha Bandhan, the festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. How to observe the fast of shravani somvaar Shravan Monday Devotees fast for the entire day and worship Lord Shiva, offering water jalabhishek , sandal paste or powder, dhatura flowers and fruits of a poisonous flowering plant , belpatra leaves of golden apple.

Some devotees also gather in nearby temples and sing bhajans in honour of Lord Shiva and Parvati. A lot of people observe fast the entire Sawan Month and pray to the Shiva Lingam every day.

They also organize various puja and other ceremonies to please Lord Shiva and to get his blessings. Shravan Purnima or the full moon day in Shravan maas is coincides with the Nakshatra or birth star of Lord Vishnu or Shravan Nakshatra and is therefore called Sawan Maas.

In this month each Somvar or Monday is called Shravan Somvar and is considered highly auspicious. All Mondays in Shravan month are celebrated in Lord Shiva temples. A Dharanatra is hung over the Shiva Lingam filled with Holy water and milk, to continuously bathe the lingam, throughout the day and night. Lord Shiva devotees then offer Bilva leaves, holy water and milk and flowers, also known as Falam toyam and Pushpam patram to the Shiva Lingam every Monday throughout Sawan Month.

Devotees fast until sunset and the Akhand Diya burns throughout this time. As per ancient Hindu mythology the Samudra manthan or the churning of the sea was the joint effort of the Gods Devatas and the demons Danavs.

According to age old legends, the holy Shravan maas was the one during which the Gods and Demons decided to churn the ocean to decide who among them was the strongest.

This was done to please Goddess Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. And also so that she would reward them with the nectar from the ocean. The Gods and demons had agreed to share the nectar equally among themselves.

It is said that 14 kinds of pious things came out of the ocean. An innumerable amount of gems and jewels along with the poison Halahal came out of the sea. Wear Rudraksha and use it for japas. Bhibhuti is considered very important if offered to lord Shiva. Some of it should be smeared on the forehead as well.

Offer panchamrit a mixture of milk, curd, butter or ghee, honey and jaggery and bael leaves to Shiva linga. Chant the shiva chalisa and perform regular aarti of lord Shiva. Chanting the Mahamritunjay mantra is very auspicious. Fast on all Shravan Somvars. This is the period of the Shravani mela at the temple. Importance of Shravan Mahina in Maharashtra. Shravan Month Fasts and rituals in Gujarat. Labels Shiva Shravan Month.