Shravan Maas 2023: Time to Seek Lord Shiva’s Blessings

Shravan is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar, beginning in late July from the first day of the full moon and ending in the third week of August, the day of the next full moon. Shravan Maas is considered to be the holiest month of the year. During Shravan Maas, the cosmos is naturally charged with Shiva tattvas (elements) that purify the mind, the senses, the body, and the self. It’s the best month to worship Lord Shiva with Rudrabhishek Puja.

This auspicious month marks the arrival of the southwest monsoon in the Indian Subcontinent. The weather is cloudy and wet, and the rain frequently blesses the ground. This whole month is a time for celebration for Shiva devotees as it is the month of Shiva – the god of destruction and regeneration. 

According to the traditional Hindu calendar Shravan Month, Shravan Mahina or Shravan Maas (July – August) is one of the holiest months. Each region in India considers this month holy, and various vrats and rituals are performed. All Somvars (Mondays) of Shravan month are specially observed with austerity as these days are devoted to the worship of Lord Shiva.

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Lord Shiva is believed to be the most receptive this month, and devotees pray and perform Maha Mrityunjay Homa/Havan, Rudra Homa, and Rudrabhishek puja to make their wishes heard. The rituals in this month involve Pujas and fasts, which make the connection to god deeper and cleanse your soul. 

For all the devotees who wish to seek Lord Shiva’s blessing during Shravan Maas, SmartPuja will help you with a memorable religious ceremony. SmartPuja is an online religious portal facilitating pandit booking for 400+ pujas and homas, astrology, and e-puja services.

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To proceed with advance Shravan Maas bookings, connect with our professional at 080-61160400. 

Shravan Maas Dates 2023

• In most of northern India, Purnimanta Hindu Calendar is followed, and Shravan Maas will start on July 4 and end on August 31, 2023.

• Amavasya Lunar Calendar is followed in the southern region, and Shravan Maas will start July 18 till September 15, 2023.

Legend Behind Shravan Maas Puja

As per the legends, when Samudra Manthan (the churning of oceans) took place in Shravan, 14 different types of exotic items came out. Thirteen of these were distributed among participants, except Halahal or poison (the 14^th item from Samudra Manthan). Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat, hence the name Neelkantha (meaning blue throat) is attributed to Lord Shiva. In order to reduce the strong effect of this poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. Thereafter all the Gods started offering Ganges water to cool Lord Shiva and to alleviate the ill effects of the Halahal (poison). Since this happened in the month of Shravana, the devotees of Lord Shiva devotees offer Abhishekam (ritual bathing) to Lord Shiva in this month.

Importance & Significance of Shravan Maas Puja

In this holy month, Rudrabhishek would be carried out with chants of Rudram. Abhisheka of Shiva linga with different juices and holy liquids will be performed for the entire duration of Puja. Shri Rudram is the oldest listing of various names of Lord Shiva. Through the chanting of Sri Rudram, the various attributes and aspects of Lord Shiva are invoked and worshipped. By the power of Shri Rudram, the unmarried find ideal mates, the sick become well, wealth & power is showered, debts are removed and death is evaded. With this Rudram chanting, patterns and karmas get detached from you. Basically, chanting Sri Rudram is a direct way to Enlightenment. It is believed that the one who worships Lord Shiva in the month of Shravan is freed from all bondages and sins of Karma and gets Moksha. 

The puja not only pleases Lord Shiva and cleanses the souls of the devotees but also increases love and family bonding. Performing this puja with devotion and sincerity is believed to help alleviate mental and physical health problems. 

Spiritual practices during Shravan Maas

1. Fasting – In this, the devotees abstain from eating prohibited food and drinks as part of the cleanse during this month. There are 5 types of vrats (fasts) that devotees undertake, most common is the sawan somwar vrat, and solah somwar vrat, kept on Mondays (somwar).
2. Rudra Abhishek – It is the main puja this month to worship Lord Shiva. People wearing rudraksha can use it for chanting. 
3. Others- many other pujas are done to worship Lord Shiva, and offerings are made of panchamrit to Shivlinga. Many people feed the hungry or perform service to the community to show their compassion toward the lives saved by Lord Shiva. Kunwariyas walk barefeet to pour ganga jal on Shivalinga.

Significance of Mondays during Shravan Maas

Mondays are dedicated to Shiva; all rituals are more receptive to the people on Mondays. Most fasts are kept on Mondays of this month. The auspiciousness of this day brings more positive energy and value to the acts like charity and puja. 

The Sawan Somwar Vrat is observed every Monday of the month. The Solah Somwar Vrat is kept for 16 consecutive Mondays by unmarried women to find an ideal husband. 

Festivals and events during Shravan Maas

Raksha Bandhan– This day marks the end of the Shravan Maas on a full moon night by celebrating the sacred relationship between a brother and sister. On Rakshabandhan, Sister ties a Rakhi around her brother’s wrist in return for a promise by her brother to always protect her. 

Janmashtami– It is the celebration of Lord Krishna’s birth (Krishna Janmashtami) and falls on the 8^th day after the full moon during the Shravan Maas.

Nag Panchami– Nag Panchami is a day devoted to saving and worshipping snakes and falls on the fifth day after Amavasya on Shravan Maas.

Other festivals like Hariyali Teej, Ekadashi, Varalakshmi, and Gayatri Jayanti fall in this month too.

Shravan Maas Traditions Across India

Kanwar yatra is a north Indian tradition where devotees walk barefoot to offer the holy water from the Ganges to Lord Shiva. Teej is also a north Indian tradition, where women dress in traditional attire and pray for their husband’s well-being. 

Fasts, pujas, bhajans, and kirtans are common across India and bring unity to the community. 

Do’s and Don’ts During Shravan Maas

Do’s

1. Devotees fast during this month; the frequency of fasts depends from person to person, but following a restrictive diet to cleanse their bodies.
2. Doing puja every morning is also something devotees should follow.
3. Visiting Lord Shiva’s temple frequently this month is preferred, as offering him panchamrit and other things.
4. Mondays are more auspicious this month, and actions count more. Doing charity, puja, praying, everything holds more value on a Monday.

Don’ts

1. There are dietary restrictions for people keeping fast; they cannot eat garlic, grains, rice, and pulses, mainly with many other foods. 
2. Drinking alcohol is frowned upon during this month.
3. Even when not fasting, do not consume garlic and ginger in any form.
4. Non-veg food is also not allowed this month, especially the day one keeps fast. 

Conclusion

Since Shravan Maas is the most auspicious month in the Hindu Calendar, the acts and prayers bring more blessings to the devotees and allow them to show their devotion to Lord Shiva. Mondays are important this month as they are associated with Lord Shiva, and many fasts are also kept on Mondays. 

Shravan Maas helps cleanse the soul of the devotees by performing rituals and keeping fasts. The prayers in this month are more receptive, and different people show their devotion in different ways.

If you’re planning for Lord Shiva’s puja and homa during Shravan Maas, connect with an expert Vedic professional at SmartPuja for a hassle-free, memorable experience.

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