!!!!!!.............Importance of Shravan Month Fasting .............!!!!!!!

!!!!!!.............Importance of Shravan Month Fasting .............!!!!!!!
Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain Shri Omkareshwar Jyotirling
// Somnath Mahadev // 
1 ) Shravan is the fifth month of Hindu calendar beginning from Chaitra. This month is considered highly auspicious for praying to Lord Shiva. It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva during Sawan is considered more powerful than worshiping during normal days.

2 ) Many Hindus observe fasts and perform Pujas during the month, especially on Monday. The fasts done on Monday are known as Shravan Somwar Vrat. It is believed that by observing Sravan Somvar Vrat all desires gets fulfilled. It is believed that if unmarried women keep fast on Mondays of the month they would get a good husband. Apart from Monday’s women keep fasts on Tuesdays and Fridays of the month too. On Tuesdays newly married brides keep the Mangala Gauri Vrata to get rid of bad omens and married women keep Varalaksmi Vrata on Friday (Shravan Shukravar Vrata)

3 ) 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. Those who have complications in their birth chart due to the planet Saturn observe fast on this day of Sampat Shanivar .Praying to Goddess Lakshmi is also considered auspicious in this month. Some other auspicious occasions in the month of Shravan are Hariyali Amavasi, Hariyali Teej, Nag Panchami, Tulsi Das Jayanti,Putradaikadashi, Shravani Purnima, Rishi Panchami, Krishna Janmashtami and Raksha Bandan.

4 ) According to a legend the churning of oceans or Samudra Manthan took place in the month of Shravan and it is on a Somvar that Lord Shiva drank the poison Hala Hala to save the world. In order to lessen the effect of poison the Devas had offered the Ganges water to Lord Shiva. Because of this on Shravana Somvar in Shiva Temples the Shivalinga is bathed with holy water day and night. Devotees pile the linga high with Bel leaves and flowers and fast till sunset. A 24 hour lamp also burns steadily in the temples. It is believed that one can please Lord Shiva in Shravan month by offering milk. It is considered highly auspicious to wear rudraksha beads in Shravan month.