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