Menon Astrology

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The meaning of Sravan is to hear. Therefore, it is said that listening to discourses, speeches and sermons this month lead to special fruits. This year the month of Shravan that began on July 23 will go on till August 20.

The fifth month of Hindu calendar is called Shravan. According to astrologers, during this month and on Purnima, the shravan constellation can be seen in the sky. Hence the name.

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Sravana begins from the first day of the full moon and ends in the third week of August, the day of the next full moon. The month of Shravana is very important for the entire sub-continent of India as it is connected to the arrival of the South-West monsoons. For many Hindus, the month of Shraavana is a month of fasting. Many Hindus will fast every Monday to the Lord Shiva and/or every Tuesday to the Goddess Parvati. Fasting on Tuesdays of this month is known locally as "Mangala Gauri Vrat". Shravana is considered to be a holy month in the Hindu calendar due to the many festivals that are celebrated during this time like Krishna Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan, Narali Poornima, Nag Panchami, Basava Panchami, Avani Avittam, Shri Baladeva Birthday etc.

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 Each day in the month of Shravan has a special significance and other deities are worshiped too. Mondays are dedicated to Shiva, Tuesdays to Gauri, Wednesdays to Vithala, Thursdays to Mercury and Jupiter, Fridays to Lakshmi and Tulsi, Saturdays to Shani and Sundays to Sun. Many do Pujas of Lord Vishnu on Saturday. 

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 It is believed that on Poornima or a full moon day or at any time during this month, the Shravan Nakshatra or star rules the skies and hence, this month derives its name from this nakshatra.

The Shravan month is synonymous with auspicious festivals and events. It is the best time to conduct all-important religious ceremonies, as almost all days in this month are auspicious for shubh arambh, i.e. good start. Shravan maas’ ruling deity is Lord Shiva.

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In this month, each Monday is celebrated as Shravan Somvar across all temples with the Dharanatra hanging over the Shiva linga, bathing it with holy water and milk, throughout the day into the night. Devotees offer Bael leaves, flowers, holy water and milk, i.e. Falam-Toyam, Pushpam-Patram to lord Shiva on every Shravan Somwar. They fast until the sun goes down and the Nandadeep, the Akhand Diya, burns throughout.

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Why is Shravan so auspicious : The Samudra Manthan is a very important episode as per the Puranas. The churning of the milky ocean, i.e. Samudra Manthan in search of the amrit, took place during the month of Shravan. During the churning, 14 different rubies emerged from the ocean. Thirteen rubies were divided among the devas and the asuras, however, Halahal, the 14th ruby remained untouched as it was the deadliest poison which could destroy the whole universe and every living being. Lord Shiva drank the Halahal and stored the poison in his throat. Due to the impact of the poison, his throat turned blue and he came to be called Neelkantha. Such was the impact of the poison that Lord Shiva wore a crescent moon on his head and all the devas started offering water from the holy river of Ganges to lord Shiva to reduce the effects of the poison. Both these events took place in the Shravan Maas and therefore, it is considered very auspicious to offer holy Ganga water to Lord Shiva in this month.

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Devout devotees of Lord Shiva consider it auspicious to wear Rudraksha in the month of Shravan. Mondays are dedicated to Lord Shiva as his the ruling deity of the day. However, Mondays in the Shravan maas as known as Shravan Somwar and are highly auspicious, and celebrated with all austerities.

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