Offbeat News : The holy month of Sawan (Shravan), considered highly auspicious for Lord Shiva devotees, will begin this year on July 11, 2024, right after the Ashadha Purnima on July 10. This time, Sawan will commence under the rare and powerful Guru-Aditya Yoga, enhancing its spiritual significance.
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Pandit Manoj Pandey, a renowned astrologer, shared that this year the month of Sawan will feature four Mondays, considered especially sacred for Shiva worship. The first Sawan Somvar fast falls on July 14, followed by July 21, July 28, and the final Monday on August 4.
This Sawan is unique due to the occurrence of multiple auspicious yogas, including Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga, Amrit Siddhi Yoga, and Shiv Yoga. These celestial combinations are believed to amplify the spiritual rewards of worship and penance done during this holy period.
During Sawan, devotees engage in dedicated worship of Lord Shiva, performing Abhishek rituals using holy items like water, milk, curd, ghee, sugar, honey, Ganga water, and sugarcane juice. Sacred leaves and flowers such as bael leaves, durva grass, lotus, blue lotus, madar, kaner, and mustard flowers are offered to please the deity. Traditional offerings like dhatura, bhaang, and coconut (shreephal) are also presented to Lord Shiva as part of the ritual worship.
Apart from Monday fasts, the month also includes several important Hindu festivals and fasting days, such as Hariyali Amavasya, Hariyali Teej, Nag Panchami, Kamika Ekadashi, Sawan Putrada Ekadashi, Raksha Bandhan, and Shravan Purnima. Notably, this year, Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima will be celebrated on August 9, marking the end of the Sawan month under the Ayushman and Saubhagya Yogas.
According to Hindu priests, observing fasts and performing religious rituals during Sawan, especially on Mondays, is believed to bring peace, prosperity, and fulfillment of desires. The month holds a revered place in Sanatan tradition and is seen as a time to deepen one’s spiritual practices and devotion to Lord Shiva.
