Significance of Shravan Month

Sraavana Maasam which is the fifth month as per the Hindu calender is considered one of the most important and auspicious months for the Hindus. This auspicious month is full of festivals and coincides with the months of August / September. According to the Telugu calender, this year Sravana Maasam starts from July 27' 2014 (Sunday) and ends on August 25' 2014 (Monday).

As Sravana Nakshatra is believed to be the birth star of Lord Vishnu, this month is considered highly auspicious and  Goddess Sri Mahalakshmi who is the wife of Lord Vishnu, is worshiped on the four Fridays of this auspicious month. Second Friday of the month is the most important as Varalakshmi Vratam is celebrated on this day when Goddess Lakshmi Devi is worshiped in the form of Varalakshmi - the goddess which bestows with all the boons. In addition to the four Fridays of the month, even the four Tuesdays of Sraavana Maasam are quite important for the newly married women. They perform Sravana Mangala Gowri Nomu / Vratam on Tuesdays and worship Goddess Parvati Devi in the form of Mangala Gowri for the welfare of their family, for a happy married life and for a healthy life of her husband. Hence, this month is highly important for the newly married brides.

Besides these, the full moon day in this auspicious month is very important and is known by the names Sraavna Pournami or Janjaala Pournami as on this auspicious day, men who wear the holy thread perform Upakarma and wear a new thread. And in the Northern states of the country, the important festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon day which helps in strengthening the bond between the siblings, particularly brothers and sisters.

Janmaastami - the birth day of Lord Krishna - is yet another important festival which is celebrated in the month of Sraavan.

The important festivals that are celebrated in this auspicious month of Sraavan are:

1.                  Naga Panchami / Garuda Panchami ( Aug 1' 2014)

2.                  Varalakshmi Vratam (Aug 8' 2014)

3.                  Rakhi Pournami (Aug 10' 2014)

4.                  Sri Krishna Janmaastami / Gokulaastami  (Aug 18' 2014)

Important Fasting dates in Shravan Month are:

Putrada Ekadasi – Aug 7’ 2014 - Putrada Ekadasi is mainly observed by childless couples in order to beget a child.

Aja Ekadasi – Aug 21’ 2014 - It is believed that a person who observes this Ekadasi becomes free from the reactions of his/her sinful activities.

 Significance of Shravan Weekdays: 

Each day in the month of Shravan has a special significance and has its own ritual. 

Monday: is the day of Lord Shiva worship. 

Tuesday: Gauri is worshipped in every home, by women for the good health of their family. 

Wednesday: are dedicated to Vithala, a form of Vishnu or Krishna. 

Thursday: are also days for worshipping Buddh and Guru. 

Friday: every home worships Lakshmi and Tulsi. 

Saturday: are for Saturn (Shani). It is also known as Shravan Saturdays, with the object of object of obtaining wealth. These days are known as Sampat Sanivara (wealth Saturdays). 

Sundays: are meant worshipping the Sun god. Sun worship was general in the Vedic period and even now it is so. Especially in Shravan, every Sunday the Sun is worshipped without fail.

Benefits of praying during Shravan Month:

• The legend says that when the churning of oceans - Samudra Manthan - took place in the month of Shravan, fourteen different types of rubies came out. Thirteen of these were distributed amongst the demons, except Halahal (poison). Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored it in his throat. Hence the name Neelkantha (meaning blue throat) is attributed to Shiva. 
• To reduce the strong effect of poison, Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head. All the Gods, thereafter started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to make lessen the effect of poison. Since, this happened in the month of Shravana, since then the Shiva devotees offer the Ganges water in this month. 
• It is considered highly auspicious to wear a rudraksha in Shravan month. As, Mondays or Somvars of Shravan month are specially observed with austerity. All Mondays are devoted to the worship of Shiva as this day is sacred to Lord Shiva. No other Mondays of other months are so greatly honoured. 
• The belief is that in Shravan month, offering milk to Lord Shiva earns a lot of punya.  

Things to do during Shravan month:

• Wear Rudraksh, and also use a Rudraksh mala for Japa.

• Offer Lord Shiva Bhibhuti and place some on your forehead.

• Make offerings of Bel leaves, Panchamrut (Milk, Yoghurt, Ghee – clarified butter, Honey and Jaggery) on Shiva Ling.

• Recite Shiv Chalisa and Aarti

• Chant Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra

• Fasting on Mondays. Girls who fast on all Mondays of Shravan get a good husband.

During the month of Shravan, devotees of Lord Shiva perform the ritual of Abhishek with 11 different worship materials:

Milk – Happiness for children

Curd – Peace of Mind

Ghee – Liberation from sin

Honey – Money

Sugar – Achievement

Grass – Health

Coconut water – Ancestry growth

Grains of water – prosperity

Jaggery water – Academic

Barley water – Solution to the torment

Ganga Jal - Moksha 

The Divine Gayatri Mantra

Gayatri is the mother of the Vedas and the destroyer of sins. There is nothing more purifying on the earth as well as in the heaven than the Gayatri. The Japa of Gayatri brings the same fruit as the recitation of all the four Vedas together with the Angas. This single Mantra, if repeated three times a day, brings good (Kalyan or Moksha). It is the Mantra of the Vedas. It destroys sins. It bestows splendid health, beauty, strength, vigour, vitality and magnetic aura in the face (Brahmic effulgence).

Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ, tát savitúr váreṇ(i)yaṃ, bhárgo devásya dhīmahi, dhíyo yó naḥ pracodáyāt

Translation :- We meditate upon the spiritual effulgence of that adorable supreme divine reality Who is the source of the physical, the astral and the heavenly spheres of existence. May that supreme divine being enlighten our intellect, so that we may realise the supreme truth.

The mind is purified by constant worship. It is filled with good and pure thoughts. Repetition of worship strengthens the good Samskaras. "As a man thinks, that he becomes. " This is the psychological law. The mind of a man who trains himself in thinking good, holy thoughts, develops a tendency to think of good thoughts. His character is molded and transformed by continued good thoughts. When the mind thinks of the image of Gayatri during worship, the mental substance actually assumes the form of the image. The impression of the object is left in the mind. This is called Samskara. When the act is repeated very often, the Samskaras gain strength by repetition, and a tendency or habit is formed in the mind. He who entertains thoughts of Divinity becomes transformed actually into the Divinity himself by constant thinking and meditation. His Bhava or disposition is purified and divinized. The meditator and the meditated, the worshipper and the worshipped, the thinker and the thought become one and the same. This is Samadhi. This is the fruit of worship or Upasana. 

How to chant Gayatri Mantra:

• Gayatri Mantra should be chanted facing North or East.
• Start Japa and meditation of Gayatri sitting in Padmasana, Siddhasana or Virasana.
• Do Achamanam before starting the chanting and light a lamp or Incense sticks.
• Constantly feel that you are receiving light, purity and wisdom from Gayatri.
• Keep the image of the Gayatri at the Trikuti, the space between the eye-brows by closing the eyes and concentrate there, or keep the image in the lotus of the heart and concentrate there. You will have Darshan of Gayatri.
• Repeat 'Santhi' three times after finish chanting the Gayatri Mantra

 How many times to chant:

• It is better if you do Japa of Gayatri 3000 to 4000 times daily. Your heart will be purified rapidly. 
• If you are not able to do this number, you can do 1008 times daily. If you find it difficult to do this number also, do at least 108 times daily, 36 times at sunrise, 36 times at noon, 36 times at sunset. There is special, mysterious spiritual force or wonderful magnetic power at Sandhi or junction of the time, sunrise and sunset. The mind will be elevated quickly. It will be filled with Sattva. Concentration will come by itself without any effort at this time. If you find it difficult to get up at Brahmamuhurta, get up before sunrise.
• At least one Mala of Japa you must do daily without a break. It will guard you from all dangers, give you infinite strength to overcome all obstacles, and take you to the very pinnacle of splendor, power, peace and bliss.

When to chant Gayatri Mantra:

There are three specific times in a day when the Gayatri Mantra should be chanted. The three times of a day is also known as Sandhyakal.  

First Time: The first time is before sunrise. This is called as Brahma muhurta.  The mantra should then be chanted till the sun rises.

Second Time: The second time to chant this mantra in the day is afternoon time.

Third Time: The third time to chant Gayatri Mantra is before sun set till the sun sets.
Apart from these timings, if someone wishes to chant this mantra, he/she should do it silently calmly within oneself. This mantra should not be chanted aloud. 

Do’s and Don’ts:

• If the Gayatri Mantra is not recited correctly, it has the opposite effect of enveloping the person in darkness. But, if we recite it with Love, God will accept it. 
• Each word should be pronounced clearly and distinctly, without undue haste or hurry. 
• Gayatri Mantra is a universal prayer which asks for a clear intellect so that the truth may be reflected therein without distortion. 
• Gayatri mantra can be chanted by men and women of all climes and creeds. It calls upon the Glorious Power that pervades the Sun and the Three worlds to arouse, awake and strengthen the Intelligence, so that it may lead us through intense sadhana to success. 
• The heart needs to be cleansed thrice a day - dawn, noon and dusk. Besides these times, Gayatri Mantra can be repeated anywhere, anytime including  night time.
• Gayatri Mantra is synonymous with Divinity and has therefore to be approached with humility, reverence, faith and love towards the Mantra. 
• Love and reverence for the Mantra and faith in its promised results are for more important than mere mechanical repetition while the mind wanders. 
• Full faith in the power and potency of the Gayatri Mantra will be generated only when the seeker has developed the requisite degree of enthusiasm, love and reverence towards this Mantra. 
• The more one chants this Mantra, the greater the benefit to the one who chants it. 
• Start regular, daily Gayatri Japa and feel the wondrous power that you derive therefrom. 
• Fix a particular time for the Japa and stick to it permanently.

Benefits of Gayatri Mantra:

• Happiness
• Glowing skin
• Dislike for bad food
• Belief in god
• Sixth Sense improves
• The power of blessing increases
• Eyes get bright
• Attain peace
•  Never get angry
• Improvement in Intelligence

 

Specific Benefits of Gayatri Mantra:

Benefit for Kids:  Chanting this mantra 108 times every day, makes children intelligent and helps them achieve everything they want. 

For Progeny: If a couple is not being blessed with a child for a long time, they should chant this mantra every morning before sun rise and keep chanting it till the sunrise wearing white clothes.

For Enmity: If you are facing difficulties because of your enemies, chant this mantra every Tuesday, Sunday and on Amavasya wearing red clothes. You should think of Goddess Durga while chanting Gayatri Mantra. Doing with will get you rid of all the problems created by your enemies.

Delayed Marriage: If your marriage is getting delayed, chant this mantra 108 times every Monday, wearing yellow clothes. While chanting this mantra, think of goddess Parvati. You will soon find a suitable match.

For Prolonged illness: To get rid of a prolonged illness, chant this mantra on any auspicious day. Keep a pot of fresh water too near you and sit on a red cloth while you chant this mantra. After chanting, drink that pot of water.

For  eyes and stomach ailments: On any auspicious day,  mix milk, ghee, curds and honey and do a havan while chanting the Gayatri Mantra 1,000 times. This will cure eyes and stomach illness.   

Spiritual Benefits of chanting:

• Gayatri destroys the three kinds of Taapa or pain.
• Gayatri bestows the four kinds of Purushartha viz. , Dharma (righteousness), Artha (wealth), Kama (desired objects) and Moksha (liberation or freedom).
• It destroys the three knots of ignorance, Avidya, Kama and Karma.
• Gayatri purifies the mind.
• Gayatri bestows Ashta Siddhis
• Gayatri makes a man powerful and highly intelligent
• Gayatri eventually gives liberation or emancipation from the wheel of births and deaths. 

Youtube Links for Gayatri Mantra:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwRoHC83wx0