Shravan
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Shravan
Romesh Mengi , The holiest month "Daily Excelsior" 16/7/2017
Lord Shiva is the conglomeration of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, the three main presiding deities unified in one absolute form. Also revered as the supreme God in which the word ‘GOD’ stands for ‘G’ – Generator , ‘O’- Operator; D-destructor.
The word ‘Shiva’ means ‘Auspicious of all Auspicious and also Auspicious even in Inauspicious’ since he is the presiding deity in the crematorium where the impure body travels for its final Journey and then the body gets purified by his grace and attains salvation.
Lord Shiva is the Supreme form of the Trinity in oneness. Lord Shiva is the most popular Hindu God. He bestows numerous boons upon his devotees. On the one hand, he does the crude job of destruction and on the other magnanimity! He inspires, cares for and protects his devotees
The month of Shravan is the fifth month of the Hindu calender beginning from Chaitra, and is the most auspicious month of the Chaturmas. On Purnima or fullmoon day, or during the course of the month the star ‘Shravan’ rules the sky, hence the month is called Shravan. This month is spread out with innumerably religious festivals and ceremonies and almost all the days of this month are auspicious.
Shravan is considered the holiest month of the year. Each monday of this month, known as Shravana 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.
The significance of Lord Shiva in Shravan Month
The Samudra Manthan is a very important episode as per the Puranas. The churning of the milky ocean, i.e. Samudra Manthan in search of the amrit, took place during the month of Shravan. During the churning, 14 different rubies emerged from the ocean. Thirteen rubies were divided among the devas and the asuras, however, halahal, the 14th ruby remained untouched as it was the deadliest poison which could destroy the whole universe and every living being. Lord Shiva drank the Halahala and stored the poison in his throat. Due to the impact of the poison, his throat turned blue and he came to be called Neelkantha.
Such was the impact of the poison that Lord Shiva wore a crescent moon on his head and all the devas started offering water from the holy river of Ganges to lord Shiva to reduce the effects of the poison. Both these events took place in the Shravan Maas and therefore, it is considered very auspicious to offer holy Ganga water to Lord Shiva in this month.
Devout devotees of Lord Shiva consider it auspicious to wear Rudraksha in the month of Shravam. Mondays are dedicated to Lord Shiva as his the ruling deity of the day. However, Mondays in the Shravan maas aRE known as Shravan Somwar and are highly auspicious, and celebrated with all austerities.
According to another legend, Devi Sati also sacrificed heself in this month and before dying she swore that she would marry Shiva in every succeeding life. Devi Sati was born as Parvati in her next life. She fasted during the month of sawan due to which Lord Shiva was impressed and they used to meet up on Monday. Since then, the Monday and fasting has a great importance in the Month of savan.
Rituals to following Shravan Month
Offering milk to lord Shiva in Shravan Month leads one to earn a lot of punyas.
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 bel 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 important for young women seeking good husbands.
This year, the Shravan month started from Monday, 10th of July, 2017 which was be observed as the 1st day of Shravan Month as well as 1st day of Shravan Somvar Vrat. Shravan Somvar Vrat will be observed on every Monday i.e. on 10th July, 17th July, 24th July, 31st July and 7th August which will be the last day of Shravan Month.
This entire month is dedicated to Lord Shiva and worshipping him during this month is said to bring most auspicious results and blessings of Lord Shiva. Many people observe fast for this entire month and make offerings to Lord Shiva everyday.
The Shakti of Lord Shiv
Narayani Ganesh, August 21, 2023: The Times of India
As part of the Hindu trinity – Shiv, Vishnu and Brahma – Shiv is said to represent the universe that is nothing but energy, Shakti. This aspect is brought out by Sulabha Kore in her book titled Shiv and Shivalaya that she wrote after winning the Tagore National Fellowship for Cultural Research, Ministry of Culture, for the Asiatic Society of Mumbai. Shiv is not simply a noun, a name; it is a concept, it is energy, Shakti, that encompasses the whole world, says Kore.
Shiv is not born of anyone, he is swayambhu, self-generated, self-manifested – “created by his own accord”. Shiv was present even before the universe and worlds were created. Shiv was there when nothing else was present. Hence, he is known as the Adi Yogi. Shiv is both empty and full. He is both nirgun and sagun, with and without form. He is Ishwar, God personified, energy manifested in a form that evokes both awe and affection, reverence and devotion.
Shiv is in the macrocosm; he is also in tiny particles and their parts thereof; he is ubiquitous, indestructible, though he is also called the destroyer. In fact, Shiv’s body is teeming with the universe, and since he is indestructible, the universe, too, is eternal, always evolving, going through myriad life and death cycles over and over again, passing through pralayas and mahapralayas – deluge and super deluge cycles.
Why, then, is it said that Shiv is simple and easily pleased, and referred to as Ashutosh? Sulabha Kore comes up with the answer: “We get easily engrossed in humanising gods and because of this, we consider gods to be close to us, to be one of us. We treat devas as any other human in our midst, except that we assign to them unique and wonderful qualities. We see Shiv as hero… he is the supreme saviour of all.”
Shiv loves secluded places that are serene and in nature, says Kore.
Therefore, we see him in the Himalayas, in the Sahyadri hills and valleys, in the midst of water, rivers, springs and in deep forests. Kore says, “Shiv resides yatra, tatra, sarvatra – here, there and everywhere. He epitomises Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram, the Ultimate Truth, Living the Truth and Beauty.”
Why is the monsoon, the Shravan season, so special to Shiv? One story is that the samudra manthan, mythological churning of the milky ocean, is believed to have happened during the Shravan season. The ocean threw up many auspicious gifts like Kamadhenu and amrit, but it also came up with halahal, kalakut, the deadly poison that Shiv imbibed and let rest in his throat, to save the world from its toxic effects. The poison made Shiv’s throat turn blue, which is why he is also called Neelkanth, the blue-throated One, and that is why copious amounts of water and milk are offered to Shiv, to cool him down and reduce the effects of the poison.
This ritualistic tradition continues to this day, and devotees throng Shiv temples during Shravan, offering water and milk to the Shivlingam. Mondays are considered particularly special, when devotees fast, pray and propitiate Ishwar by chanting Har Har Mahadev! Bhole Nath ki Jai!
