Shiva · Shiva and Parvati
Sawan Somvar Vrat
The Mondays of the rainy month of Shravana, kept as fasting days for Lord Shiva.
Also known as: Shravan Somvar, Sawan Mondays
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When is it observed?
Every Monday (Somvar) in the month of Shravana (Sawan). By the purnimanta count, followed in north India, the month runs from the full moon of Ashadha to the full moon of Shravana; by the amanta count, followed in Maharashtra, Gujarat and the south, it runs from the new moon to the next new moon, so it starts about two weeks later.
About Sawan Somvar Vrat
Shravana is the month most dear to Shiva devotees, and its Mondays are especially sacred to Him since Monday is the day of the Moon, which Shiva wears on his head. Devotees fast through the day and visit a Shiva temple, with large queues forming at jyotirlingas and local temples.
The main acts are the abhishek of the Shivalinga with water and milk, offering bilva leaves, and chanting "Om Namah Shivaya". Many devotees keep fasts on all the Mondays of the month, and some continue the practice for sixteen Mondays in a vow known as Solah Somvar.
Significance
Tradition links the month to the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), when Shiva drank the poison halahala to protect the world, and the rains and offerings of cool water are believed to soothe Him. Pouring water on the linga is therefore the heart of the worship.
Another belief connects the vow to Parvati, who is said to have fasted to win Shiva as her husband. Because of that, unmarried women sometimes keep the Mondays hoping for a good partner, while families keep them for general well-being. These are traditional beliefs rather than assurances.
How to keep the Sawan Monday fast
- 1Rise early on Monday, bathe and put on clean (preferably white or green) clothes, and take the sankalp to keep the fast.
- 2Go to a Shiva temple or set up a Shivalinga or image at home, and light a lamp and incense.
- 3Offer water, then milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar (panchamrit) in turn, and finish with clean water.
- 4Offer bilva leaves, dhatura, white flowers, sandal paste and ash (vibhuti), with the chant "Om Namah Shivaya" or the Mahamrityunjaya mantra.
- 5Read or listen to the Sawan Somvar vrat katha, and sing the aarti of Shiva.
- 6Fast through the day, taking only fruit, milk or water; some take one meal of fasting food (sendha namak, kuttu, sabudana) in the evening.
- 7Break the fast in the evening after the evening prayer, and give food or donations to the needy.
The story
The Puranas say that in the churning of the ocean by gods and demons, a deadly poison arose that threatened all beings. Shiva drank it and held it in his throat, which turned blue, earning him the name Neelkanth. Devotees offer cool water, milk and bilva in the month of Shravana to soothe his throat.
The month is also linked to the Kanwar Yatra, in which pilgrims (kanwariyas) carry holy Ganga water from places like Haridwar, Gaumukh and Sultanganj on foot and pour it over a Shivalinga at a chosen temple. The yatra is especially large in north India in the days before Sawan Shivaratri.
What to do
- ✓Offer water and bilva leaves with devotion.
- ✓Keep the fast in the mind of restraint: eat simple fasting food.
- ✓Chant "Om Namah Shivaya" through the day.
- ✓Visit the temple and help with its cleanliness.
- ✓Give food or donations to the needy.
What to avoid
- ✕Many traditions avoid offering tulsi, turmeric or kumkum to the Shivalinga; practice varies, so follow your family or temple custom.
- ✕Avoid onion, garlic, meat and alcohol on fast days.
- ✕Do not use broken or withered bilva leaves.
- ✕Avoid anger, harsh speech and cutting hair or nails on the day, as some traditions advise.
- ✕Do not push or crowd in the temple queues.
Around the country
- Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar: the Kanwar Yatra, with pilgrims in saffron walking to Shiva temples and Kashi Vishwanath.
- Maharashtra and Gujarat: Shravan Somvar begins with the amanta month, and Shiva temples such as Trimbakeshwar and Somnath see large crowds.
- Madhya Pradesh: Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar holds special processions (sawari) on Sawan Mondays.
- Tamil Nadu and Telugu regions: Sawan Mondays are not the main custom there; instead the Mondays of the month of Karthigai (Kartika) are kept for Shiva, with special abhishekam in temples, and the dates differ.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Sawan start on different dates in different states?
North India counts months from full moon to full moon (purnimanta), while Maharashtra, Gujarat and the south count from new moon to new moon (amanta), so their Shravana begins about 15 days later. The same Mondays of the Moon's Shravana are therefore not always the same.
Can I drink water during the fast?
Most people take water, milk or fruit, while some keep a strict waterless fast. Pick what suits your health, and consult a doctor if you have a medical condition.
What is Solah Somvar?
A vow in which a devotee fasts on sixteen consecutive Mondays and ends with a special puja, often begun in Sawan.