There are total 12 months, according to Hindu Panchang & Shravan is the 10th Month, according to the Vikram Samvat Hindu calendar & 5th month according to the Shak calendar. This month starts from the 1st day of the bright fortnight of the Shravan month (श्रावण शुक्लपक्षे प्रतिपदा) & ends on the no moon day of the dark fortnight of the Shravan month (श्रावण अमावस्या). This month generally falls at the end of the July month or in the beginning of the August month according to the Gregorian calendar.
The month of Shravan 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 Shravan is a month of fasting. Many Hindus fast on every Monday to please Lord Shiva as this month is considered as the month of Lord Shiva.
Festivals have always been a huge part of Indian culture, but when festivals take place during a holy month, it brings another form of celebration for devotees & Hindus in general. The month of Shravan is a whole festivity in itself, but many celebrations arrive within it which have tales of their own.
Shravan is considered to be a holy month in the Hindu calendar due to the numerous festivals that are celebrated during this time. The festivals celebrated during this month are; Nag Panchami, Randhan Shashthi, Shitala Saptami, Pavitra Ekadashi, Rakshabandhan & Janmashtmi, about which we will discuss in the upcoming articles.
Historical account of Shravan month (श्रावणः मासः) –
According to the Shiva Purana, Vishnu Purana & Bhagavad Purana; Once sage Durvasa thought of gifting the garland to Lord Indra, which was gifted by Lord Shiva to sage Durvasa, Lord Indra insulted the garland & sage Durvasa cursed him that as he has so much ego for his position, he will be without wealth & power. Taking the advantage of this, Tarakasura’s father trick king Bali to help him attack Gods & get the pot of nectar/ambrosia. Later king Bali attacked Indraloka (इन्द्रलोकः - Indra’s heavenly world) & grabs the pot of nectar/ambrosia (अमृतकलशम्). Lord Indra saw this & went behind him to get the pot of nectar/ambrosia (अमृतकलशम्) back. While trying to take it back, by mistake the pot falls into the ocean. Later, Lord Indra goes to Lord Shiva for the help & Lord Shiva suggests that, only the union of Gods & Demons for the churning of the ocean (समुद्रमन्थनम्) can help in getting the pot of nectar/ambrosia (अमृतकलशम्) back. All the Gods & Demons gets united for the churning of the ocean (समुद्रमन्थनम्) & get the pot of nectar/ambrosia back.
The churning of the ocean (समुद्रमन्थनम्) was held during the month of the Shravan. As the Gods lost the wealth & power, so to beget the goddess of wealth – Goddess Lakshmi back & to beget the pot of nectar/ambrosia (अमृतकलशम्) back the churning of the ocean (समुद्रमन्थनम्) was held. King of Himalaya- Himavana offers Mandar Mountain for churning the ocean & Lord Vishnu took the form of a tortoise (कुर्मावतारः) to give the stability to the mountain & the king of the Snake- Vasuki of Lord Shiva was used as a rope to grip the Mandar Mountain for churning.
All the Gods & Demons started churning the ocean & after a long-time poison came out of the ocean. The poison was very strong that it could affect the Gods & Demons & also could destroy the world. So, Lord Shiva came to rescue the world from the deadly poison & started drinking the poison. At that very moment Goddess Parvati held Lord Shiva’s neck & stopped the poison in the neck of Lord Shiva. All the poison got stored in the neck of Lord Shiva & because of the effect of poison, his neck appeared in a blue colour due to which he came to know by the name Neelakanth – the one who has a blue neck (नीलकण्ठः).
Lord Shiva gave life to everyone in this world by drinking the destructive poison, this is why this entire month is dedicated to him & is considered very auspicious. The impact of this poison was so strong & even though the poison was stored in the neck, Lord Shiva’s body was burning because of the poison so to make him feel better, all the Gods & Saptarishis started offering the milk & the holy water from the river Ganges, so that the effect of the poison is restrained. As these events took place during the Shravan month, this is the reason we offer milk & water more to Lord Shiva in this month.
Ritual ceremony of Sravan month (श्रावणः मासः) –
As now we all know about the historical reason of offering the Milk & water to Lord Shiva, let us know the ritual ceremonies which are performed during this whole month. Many Hindus perform the ritual ceremonies everyday & some performs only on the Mondays. As stated in the previous articles that, every God & Goddess have a particular day just like that, Monday is assigned to Lord Shiva & also to Lord Chandra (Moon). So, we worship Lord Shiva on every Monday. But as the whole Shravan Month is so special to Lord Shiva Hindus worship him this full month.
During this month, devotees wake up in the early morning & after completing bath they visit the temple of Lord Shiva & offer milk & water. Devotees also perform puja at home. Different puja rituals are also arranged at home as well as at the temple like; Rudri, Laghu Rudra, Rudrabhishek, Rudra yaag, etc.
During this whole month devotees observe fast. As fasting detoxifies the body & restrains the restlessness of the mind. A mind that is not restless slips into meditation easily. Also, as this month falls during the monsoon season, disease rate is high & eating more leads to a stomach infection, food poisoning, etc. so, people fast during this month & keep the body healthy. Some fasts only on Mondays, some fasts for full Shravan Month, some eats one time & fast. As fasting helps to detoxifying the body, it is recommended to fast with fruits or foods that are easily digestible. Those who observe fast of Chaturmaas – four months fast, they start the fasting from Devshayni Ekadashi, including this month too, until Kartika month.
During this month, some devotees also perform the Mangal Gauri Puja on Tuesdays. This puja is done by the married women for the long life of the husband. Devotees also visits the Jyotirlingas during this month for darshan.
Scientific reasons of offering milk on Shiva Linga –
The most common practice of worshipping Lord Shiva is worshipping Shiva Linga. During this whole month devotees worship Shiva Linga. The Shiva Linga is a symbolic representation of the formless Shiva. Worshipping the Shiva Linga by offering milk & water is the most common practice. We have heard & also watched movies in which they teach not to offer milk & water on Shiva Linga instead donate it to a needy person. But, let us see why it is important to offer milk on Shiva Linga.
Shiva Linga is made of a special type of stone. To protect this stone from corrosion, smooth & cold; substances like milk, ghee, honey is offered on it. If such substances are not offered on the Shiva Linga, then with time they may become brittle & break, but if they are always kept wet then they remain like this for thousands of years.
The Shiva Linga is made up of stone & installed in the most pious & a positive place in a temple emanating tremendous amount of positive energy. When milk, which is one of the best conductors of positive energies, is poured onto the Shiva Linga, the flow of energies begins to concentrate towards the Shiva Linga & the devotee becomes the receiver of the outflow for his closest proximity to the Shiva Linga. Devotee receives the strengthening of mind, body & inner consciousness. Many people mix milk & water together & pour it on Shiva Linga but that mixed milk does not give devotee a positive effect as the water has its own energy too. Offering water on the Shiva Linga also creates a different kind of energy as water is basically an electrolyte, which transmits energy much faster than air. Thus, offering water on Shiva Linga releases powerful vibrations & energizes the deity. This helps the devotees to cleanse the negative energy.
Similarly, different substances have the ability to release different vibrations when they come in contact with an energized object or deity. Many of these substances are edible & each one has a unique quality which heals or energizes a specific body part. For instance, honey used in the abhisheka has the capacity to make the voice sweeter. This is the science behind abhisheka.
According to the science of Ayurveda, the body consists of 3 components – Vata (वातः) (Air), Kafa (कफः) (Cough) & Pitta (पित्तम्) (Acids). All the three components need to be balanced for smooth functioning of the body. However, when the proportion of these components goes out of natural balance, the body begins to suffer under various ailments.
During the month of Shravan, the Vata (वातः) (Air) component of the body gets higher in proportion. During that period, one must avoid food that increases the Vata (वातः) (Air) component. For example, green leafy vegetable contains higher amounts of Vata (वातः) (Air) in them. Thus, a person is asked to avoid them during the rainy season (especially Shravan month) to avoid the diseases caused due to excess of Vata (वातः) (Air).
During the rainy season, the cattle also eat lots of green grass so, their milk contains the highest amount of Vata (वातः) component in it which leads the human body to attract viral infections. Hence, milk is considered harmful during the Shravan month. Thus, Ayurveda advises not to consume milk during Shravan.
It is stated in the Vedas that, one should feed to others only what you can eat for yourself (Which means, one must not offer to others what you will never consume) always offer the best to others & do welfare for all. Always take care of the poor & feed them the fresh & healthy food. Now if we feed the milk or green leafy vegetables, which is poison during the Shravan month, then it’s a sin as it will cause them diseases. While offering milk or leafy vegetables to the poor, on the one hand we are doing charity & on the other hand, we are giving them viral infection, etc.
Hence, to the ignorant ones who thinks offering milk on the Shiva Linga is useless, let’s just clarify at once that Sanatana Dharma is a spiritual philosophy which has its base connected to science & all the rituals are connected to pure science. Science is something inherent to it and at the same time it’s a philosophy much beyond those realms.
Thus, Shravan month (श्रावणः मासः) is celebrated with great devotion & enthusiasm in India. This month has a deep connection to the spiritual, historical as well as scientific significance. This month is not solely for the worship of Lord Shiva, but fasting & offering milk during this month helps the digestive system to balance & calms the mind. All the rituals we follow are not mere superstitions but, it has a great connection to the science, we just need to understand this.
ज्येष्ठः कृष्णपक्षे १४, २०७८