SAWAN:THE HOLY MONTH DEVOTED TO SHIVA Leave a comment
The first showers of the monsoon season are greeted by seeking blessings from Lord Shiva. Sawan (also spelt Shraavana, Sravan) festival falls in the fourth month of the Hindu Calendar. This year the festival starts from 14th July to 13th August. The month is marked by complete devotion to Lord Shiva through prayer, observing fasting, and offerings in the temple.
The festival is otherwise also known as Sawan Somvar Vrat where devotees visit temples every Monday and offer flowers, milk, and holy water to seek blessing from Mahadev. Devotees abstain from consuming non-vegetarian and fast for 16 consecutive Mondays.
While Mondays are dedicated to Lord Shiva, all Tuesdays are for Goddess Parvati and many devotees observe fast on Tuesdays as well and this fast is known as ‘Mangal Gauri Vrat’.
SIGNIFICANCE OF SAWAN: It is believed that Lord Shiva saved the world by consuming the poison which was released during the cosmic churning of the ocean, known as the Amrit Manthan. Due to the poison, Shiva’s neck turned blue, which is why he is also called Neelkanthan. All the gods then started to perform the Jalabhishek, which pleased him a lot. This incident occurred in the month of Sawan. So basically this is why as a token of gratitude, his followers offer water from the Ganga to aid in the healing of his wounds.
It is said that Goddess Parvati carried out hard penance and fasting for the entire month of Sawan to get married to Lord Shiva. Pleased by her devotion and dedication, Lord Shiva fulfilled her wish. This is one of the reasons that unmarried girls observe fast to get a good life partner.
THE RITUALS: The monsoon season is generally welcomed by Lord Shiva’s devotees by praying and seeking blessings from Lord Shiva. Women generally wear henna on their hands and adorn their wrists with green bangles and sometimes even orange or both. Each ritual has its importance that holds a deeper meaning.
Henna: Girls and women adorn their hands with henna, an organic color that is made from henna leaves. The design of henna is very intricate and looks very beautiful with detailing. The henna has importance in every Hindu festival. The henna paste symbolizes prosperity and good health in love and marriage. Girls are found chanting mantras during Sawan month as it is considered to be highly fruitful and considered to purify the mind and soul of the devotees.
This also has scientific and spiritual significance hand in hand. Fasting for a full day can disturb the mind mentally thus, the mantras of Lord Shiva can prove to be a stress buster and keep our mind calm and relaxed feeling Lord Shiva’s blessings over our inner and outer selves.
Fasting: People generally observe fasting every Monday of the month. There are different types of fasting. First fasting is Falahari fasting, where people avoid cereal grains and consume milk, milk products, nuts, seeds, and fruits. Potatoes are also added to falahari diet. Potatoes can be cooked in fasting-special rock salt. Drinks like fruit juice, coconut water, and chaas are also consumed.
Another diet people observe is the Sattvik Diet: Whole grains are replaced with gluten-free millets and flour. Rock salt is used in place of regular salt to flavor the meals. Thirdly, we have fasting where people don’t eat or consume any meal or food throughout the day.
