Shravan Month: Rituals, Festivals and Spiritual Significance
Shravan is the 5th month of the Hindu calendar and the 2nd month of Varsha ritu (rainy season). It marks the arrival of the south-west monsoons and spans the time between mid-July and mid-August. It is also the holiest month of the Hindu year, is dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the month of fasting for devotees and many important festivals fall in this month. Here we give you an overview of the significance of Shravan in the Indian culture.
Fasting During Shravan Maas and Dietary Rules
Why do we keep Shravan fast? Usually, fasting is observed on every Monday of Shravan month to honour Lord Shiva. It is believed that Monday fasting during Shravan blesses you with happiness and all your wishes are fulfilled. Fasting on Mondays is called Shravan Somvar Vrat and on the days of fasting, devotees worship Lord Shiva and offer him bel leaves, gangajal and milk. To break the Monday fast, only one meal is taken after sunset and consists of simple non-grain foods like fruits and nuts. Some people don’t even drink water during the fast.
Traditionally, people consume a sattvic diet during the month of Shravan. Rice, wheat and legumes are avoided and buckwheat and water chestnut are used. Rock salt is used instead of salt. Non-veg has to be strictly avoided during the month of Shravan and consumption of garlic and onions is also prohibited in many households.
The scientific reason to not eat non-veg in Shravan is that due to less visible sun, we get less vitamin D during this time of the year, which is why our digestion slows down, and non-veg can thus be difficult for the body to digest. The religious reason behind avoiding non-veg in Shravan is that it is the month of Lord Shiva and since all living beings are dear to him, consuming non-veg is not allowed. The science of not eating onion and garlic during Shravan is that they are layered vegetables that grow below soil and due to the rains, muddy water collects over the soil and bacteria in the soil seep into the onions and garlic, which turn them bad for consumption.
Who is the God of Shravan Month and Why?
It is believed that the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) took place in the month of Shravan. Lord Shiva consumed the poison that came out of the ocean, which could have destroyed all living beings. Thus, he saved everyone, and hence Shravan month is regarded as the month of Lord Shiva. It is believed that worshipping Lord Shiva liberates us from the three gunas that bind life. They are symbolized by the trident held by Lord Shiva and the trident also represents the past, present and the future. Pouring water on the shivalinga depicts our love and devotion for Shiva, and it is believed that the water gets purified. Chanting and meditation practiced during Shravan are intended to help us get rid of the doshas and achieve liberation.
Festivals During Shravan
Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna on the 8th day after full moon and is celebrated with a Dahi Handi in many parts of India.
Raksha Bandhan celebrates the bond between a sister and a brother, falls on the Shravan Purnima and on this day, it is a custom for the sisters to tie a Rakhi on their brothers’ wrist. In Haryana and Punjab, a similar festival called Salono is celebrated in which sisters tie threads on their brothers to prevent evil, and it is a tradition for priests and local saints to tie amulets on their devotees’ hands to protect them from evil.
Nag Panchami falls on the fifth day after the amavasya of Shravan and the snake god Naga is worshipped on this occasion. The month of Shravan concludes with Pola, the day when farmers (in Maharashtra) worship the bull. In Karnataka, this day is celebrated as Basava Panchami, which marks the merging of Guru Basava with God.
Upakarma (or Avani Avittam) which means changing the yajnopavitam thread with Vedic rituals, is performed by Brahmins in many Indian states, on the Shravana Purnima. This day is also celebrated as Balarama’s birthday.
On Gamha Purnima, celebrated in Odisha, cows and bullocks are worshipped and sweets are distributed. In the Oriya Jagannath culture, Krishna and Radha are depicted on a swing enjoying the rains. This festival called Jhulan Yatra spans from Shukla Paksha Ekadashi to Rakhi Purnima.
In central India, Shravana Purnima is celebrated as Kajari Purnima. The festival is from Navami to Kajri Purnima during which various rituals are performed by women who have sons.
Pavitropana is celebrated in Gujarat on the day of Shravana Purnima when devotees worship Lord Shiva with a puja.
Vaishnavas in Gujarat and Rajasthan celebrate Ekadashi as the start of Pushtimarga (path of grace). It marks the day when Krishna appeared before Vallabhacharya who gave him a holy thread. It is a custom to offer such threads from Ekadashi to Raksha Bandhan.
In Andhra Pradesh, Brahmins perform the sacred thread-changing ceremony on the Jandhyam Purnima.
Pola is observed in Maharashtra, on the new moon day of Shravan, wherein farmers honour their bulls.
Shrawani Mela is a prominent festival celebrated in Deoghar, Jharkhand. On this day, several pilgrims wearing saffron clothing, walk for about 100 km carrying holy water from Ganges. The yearly Kanwar Yatra also takes place in Shravan, which is an annual pilgrimage of the devotees of Lord Shiva, to places like Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri.
Spiritual Importance of Shravana
People worship Lord Shiva during this month and seek his blessings for achieving prosperity and happiness. Devotees perform rituals like Rudrabhishek and Jalabhishek to seek the blessings of God. Shravana is considered the best month to start anything new. The fasting, chanting of mantras and puja and other rituals performed in this month are believed to help in attaining spiritual enlightenment. The worship of Lord Shiva for saving mankind by drinking the poison that emerged from Samudra Manthan, is an expression of gratitude to the almighty. Festivities like Pola, Nag Panchami and Gamha Purnima are celebrated to thank and honour animals that help mankind. Salono and Raksha Bandhan are also occasions to express gratitude.
Fasting, an important part of Shravana, is a way to gain strength, build patience and imbibe self-discipline. Shravana month is considered a symbol of purity, penance and spiritual growth. It is regarded as an ideal time for introspection and understanding one’s inner self. The word Shravana literally means hearing, and it thus emphasizes the importance of keen listening for understanding and absorbing knowledge. Since Shravana is regarded as the month of Lord Shiva and many important festivals fall during this time, Hindus consider it as the most auspicious month, and the fasting, prayers and various rituals during this month are believed to have spiritual benefits.
Thus, you can see that Shravana is one of the most significant months for Hindus across the globe, as it is the time for fasting, religious rituals, and new beginnings and the different festivals which fall during this month get people together and closer to God. Due to the monsoon rains, nature is blessed with beauty and abundance during this time of the year, and looks fresh and livelier. This month is the time when the rains and sunshine come together to paint rainbows in the skies, and the equally colorful festivals that come in Shravan usher rainbows of happiness in everyone’s minds.