So, it is a no moon day of Amavasya today and here I am learning about the fifth month of the Hindu calender that begins tommorrow. Shravan Maas is said to be one of the holiest months of the Hindu calendar. It also happens to be the month during which I was born into this world.
The name is due to the astronomical significance of this month which is due to the nakshatra or star called Shravan that dominates on the full moon day of this month. As per later mythology, it is the birth star of Lord Shri Maha Vishnu and there are some wonderful stories associated with this month (I love stories. Since I was a kid, I always have. And I do believe them all. You have to be a believer and believe without judging, if you want to get to the truth, just remember that as with all stories, you have to know the metaphors the words represent).
According to the Vedas during the month of Shrawan (which starts on a full moon day per the northern calendar or the no moon day per the other lunar calender followed in other parts of India), the tatva (panchmahabhuta) most dominant in our sphere is Nabhas (which represents ether or emptiness or space). If you recall the Panchmahabhuta Theory, the first element to manifest from a union of Purusha and Prakriti (as explained in the Sankhya philosophy) was Nabha from which all other elements manifested to create the Universe. In Hindu mythology, Shiva represents the Purusha (which is the soul) along with his mythical wife Parvati representing Prakriti (the material nature that gets activated in the presence of Purusha).
It is little wonder that Lord Shiva (known as Adiyogi or the first yogi or the complete yogi or the lord of destruction or the destroyer of worlds) is worshipped all throughout this month especially on every Monday (Somvaar), the day ruled by the moon.
Based on who you talk to, the fasting is said to have different purposes and benefits. Staunch believers will tell you it rids one of all sins. Skeptics will say it is a cleansing routine which helps the body to detoxify the digestive system while enhancing physical and mental health. Married women believe it helps keep their husbands lives long while unmarried women believe it helps them catch hold of good husbands. There are also people who believe it brings peace to the ancestors souls.
A good question to consider is why Monday. The answer lies in understanding the energetics that dominate different phases of our various time units.
Moon is considered the sustainer of life on earth, the mother or the one that nurtures. Devotees will fast on this day and abstain from eating grains, legumes and other regular foods while remembering Shiva.
The following day is Tuesday (Mangalvaar), the day ruled by Mars (Mars is considered the destroyer of all that is non-living or all things that form the material world). The next day Wednesday (Budhvaar) is the day ruled by Mercury (Budha as it is called, represents Buddhi or wit or intelligence or humour as its positive qualities and indecisiveness, irritability, arrogance as its negatives). And as one thing leads to another in any process of creation, so does it happen here. The day that follows belongs to the teacher of the gods, followed by a day that is ruled by the teacher of the deamons.
There are many interesting stories about how Lord Shiva came to be known as the destroyer. You can google them but if you want to read a synopsis of the stories, here is a good place to start.
There are probably a million rituals to be performed and rules to be followed while observing these fasts. One of them is to listen to the Vrat Kathas while observers the fast. And one more is to chant the sacred mantra Om NaMaHa Shiva.
Interestingly, Om Na-ma-ha Shiva means I am None-other-than Shiva.
The name is due to the astronomical significance of this month which is due to the nakshatra or star called Shravan that dominates on the full moon day of this month. As per later mythology, it is the birth star of Lord Shri Maha Vishnu and there are some wonderful stories associated with this month (I love stories. Since I was a kid, I always have. And I do believe them all. You have to be a believer and believe without judging, if you want to get to the truth, just remember that as with all stories, you have to know the metaphors the words represent).
According to the Vedas during the month of Shrawan (which starts on a full moon day per the northern calendar or the no moon day per the other lunar calender followed in other parts of India), the tatva (panchmahabhuta) most dominant in our sphere is Nabhas (which represents ether or emptiness or space). If you recall the Panchmahabhuta Theory, the first element to manifest from a union of Purusha and Prakriti (as explained in the Sankhya philosophy) was Nabha from which all other elements manifested to create the Universe. In Hindu mythology, Shiva represents the Purusha (which is the soul) along with his mythical wife Parvati representing Prakriti (the material nature that gets activated in the presence of Purusha).
It is little wonder that Lord Shiva (known as Adiyogi or the first yogi or the complete yogi or the lord of destruction or the destroyer of worlds) is worshipped all throughout this month especially on every Monday (Somvaar), the day ruled by the moon.
Based on who you talk to, the fasting is said to have different purposes and benefits. Staunch believers will tell you it rids one of all sins. Skeptics will say it is a cleansing routine which helps the body to detoxify the digestive system while enhancing physical and mental health. Married women believe it helps keep their husbands lives long while unmarried women believe it helps them catch hold of good husbands. There are also people who believe it brings peace to the ancestors souls.
A good question to consider is why Monday. The answer lies in understanding the energetics that dominate different phases of our various time units.
Moon is considered the sustainer of life on earth, the mother or the one that nurtures. Devotees will fast on this day and abstain from eating grains, legumes and other regular foods while remembering Shiva.
The following day is Tuesday (Mangalvaar), the day ruled by Mars (Mars is considered the destroyer of all that is non-living or all things that form the material world). The next day Wednesday (Budhvaar) is the day ruled by Mercury (Budha as it is called, represents Buddhi or wit or intelligence or humour as its positive qualities and indecisiveness, irritability, arrogance as its negatives). And as one thing leads to another in any process of creation, so does it happen here. The day that follows belongs to the teacher of the gods, followed by a day that is ruled by the teacher of the deamons.
There are many interesting stories about how Lord Shiva came to be known as the destroyer. You can google them but if you want to read a synopsis of the stories, here is a good place to start.
There are probably a million rituals to be performed and rules to be followed while observing these fasts. One of them is to listen to the Vrat Kathas while observers the fast. And one more is to chant the sacred mantra Om NaMaHa Shiva.
Interestingly, Om Na-ma-ha Shiva means I am None-other-than Shiva.
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