Shravan 2023: A Rare Coincidence After 19 Years
As the holy month of Shravan is approaching, Hindus across the world are gearing up to mark this special month enthusiastically, dedicated to Mahadev. Shravan, Sravan or Sawan as it is widely pronounced is the fourth month in the Sanatan Hindu calendar. It falls in the English calendar months of (July and August). For devotees of Mahadev who also call him Bholenath or Shankar, it is the month of spiritual devotion, fasting, austerity and celebration. Hindus across India and other parts of the world dedicate this month to their Aaradhy. Shravan arrives during the monsoon season in India and hence Shiva’s devotees believe it is Bholenath’s blessings that pour on us in the form of rain as it is also a symbol of the renewal of life.
When is Shravan this Year?
This year, Shravan starts on July 4, 2023, and continues till August 31, 2023, which is a rare coincidence after 19 years. For Hindus, the month of Shravan is believed to be the most sacred month as it is the month of Mahadev when devotees worship Mahadev and follow an austere life for the entire month. However, all Somvars (Mondays) of Shravan are very special, as according to Bhagwan Shiva’s devotees, Somvar is his day.
Usually, Shravan has 4 to 5 Somvars, but this year due to a rare occurrence after 19 years as the month will span 59 days (from the usual 30/31 days), it will have 8 Somvars. So, devotees will get more time to dedicate to Bhagwan Shiva this year.
Why This Year Shravan is Different?
This year the holy month of Shravan will span 59 days and it is a rare occurrence after 19 years. The unusual 59-day extension makes this year very special for devotees as they will get extra opportunities to offer their obeisance to their deity. It is a rare occurrence and is happening after 19 years. According to astrological calculations and the Hindu calendar, this year the Shravan Maas has been extended due to the Adhik Maas or Mal Maas.
Shravan Somwar Dates (2079 – 2080 Vikrama Samvata)
There is a fifteen-day difference in the starting time of Shravan month depending on which tradition is followed in which region of India. And this is why, two traditions have been followed concerning lunar months by Hindus: the Amanta tradition, in which the lunar month ends on a new moon day and the Purnimanta tradition, in which a month ends on a full moon day.
Here are the important Sawan Somwar Vrat dates (Purnimanta Shravan) to be followed in North Indian states (Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand):
- July 4, 2023, Tuesday – Shravan Begins *North
- July 10, 2023, Monday – First Shravan Somwar Vrat
- July 17, 2023, Monday – Second Shravan Somwar Vrat
- July 18, 2023, Tuesday – Shravan Adhika Maas Begins
- July 24, 2023, Monday – First Shravan Somwar Vrat (Leaped)
- July 31, 2023, Monday – Second Shravan Somwar Vrat (Leaped)
- August 7, 2023, Monday – Third Shravan Somwar Vrat (Leaped)
- August 14, 2023, Monday – Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat (Leaped)
- August 16, 2023, Wednesday – Shravan Adhika Maas Ends
- August 21, 2023, Monday – Third Shravan Somwar Vrat
- August 28, 2023, Monday – Fourtth Shravan Somwar Vrat
- August 31, 2023, Thursday – Shravan Ends
Sawan Somwar Vrat Dates (Amanta Shravan) for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
- July 18, 2023, Tuesday – Shravana Begins *South (Shravana Adhika Maas Begins)
- July 24, 2023, Monday – First Shravan Somwar Vrat (Leaped)
- July 31, 2023, Monday – Second Shravan Somwar Vrat (Leaped)
- August 7, 2023, Monday – Third Shravan Somwar Vrat (Leaped)
- August 14, 2023, Monday – Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat (Leaped)
- August 16, 2023, Wednesday – Shravana Adhika Maas Ends
- August 21, 2023, Monday – First Shravan Somwar Vrat
- August 28, 2023, Monday – Second Shravan Somwar Vrat
- September 4, 2023, Monday – Third Shravan Somwar Vrat
- September 11, 2023, Monday – Fourth Shravan Somwar Vrat
- September 15, 2023, Friday – Shravana Ends
Why Is Shravan Maas Celebrated?
We all know the story of Samudra Manthan mentioned in the Puranas, in which both Devas and Asuras came together to churn Amrit (nectar of immortality) out of the Kshirsagar/Samudra (ocean). This event occurred in the month of Shravan. However, before the Amrit came out, many other things came out of the Samudra (ocean). Whatever came out of the Samudra, both Devas and Asuras decided to divide everything among themselves. But, along with many precious and rare things, a time came when the deadliest poison, halahal came out of Samudra. Neither Devas nor Asuras wanted it and both sides wanted the other side to take it. The poison was destroying life in the world and creating havoc everywhere.
This is when all Devas went to Brahma Deva and Mahesh (Bhagwan Shiva) for a solution. All Devas were worried as the poison was fast spreading all over the world and could have destroyed it completely. Then our Adi and Anant Bhagwan Shiva came and decided to consume the entire poison to save the world and life from it. Bhagawan Shiva wore a Moon crescent on his head to reduce the effect of the poison on Him, as the Moon is considered to have a cooling effect on the body. He then drank the entire poison and stored it in his throat, turning his throat blue due to the effect of the poison. After this incident, he was given the name Neelakanth (that is, the one with a Neel (blue) Kantha (throat) Mahadev (who is Devon ka Dev, Mahadev, meaning he is Deva of all Devas)
The effect of the poison resulted in an immense burning sensation in Mahadev’s throat. He ran inside a cave for relief, but it did not help. Then the devas started pouring water from the holy river of the Ganges on His head along with milk, butter, etc. to reduce the pain and effects of the poison. Though Mahadev had no interest in the Amrit (nectar), He still decided to drink the entire poison, to save life on this Earth, out of His immense love and compassion for every life around him. This is why Shravan month is considered to be the most sacred month by Sanatan Hindus and devotees offer holy water, milk, butter, and honey to Him. He is also offered sweets, flowers, fruits, bilva patra, bhaang, dhatura, and everything else he loves by His devotees to offer their obeisance to him.
It is also believed that Mata Parvati wanted to have Mahadev as her husband and hence she performed a hard penance and observed continuous fasting for the entire month of Shravan; finally, her wishes were fulfilled when she got married to Bhagwan Shiva as he was pleased by her devotion and dedication. The reason even today, young unmarried girls perform puja and fast to get a good life partner. People also perform 16 Somvar (Monday) Vrat to please Mahadev, so that all their wishes are fulfilled.
Mata Parvati was Devi Sati in her earlier birth (daughter of Raja Daksha, who sacrificed her life when her father did not treat her husband Bhagwan Shiva well in a Yajna organised by Daksha himself).
Sawan Celebrations and Kanwar Yatra
Along with the Sawan Somwar Vrats (fasts) dedicated to Mahadev and his consort Devi Parvati, the month is also the time for Kanwar Yatra, a significant part of Shravan celebrations by Shiva devotees. Devotees’ love for their deity is enormous and cannot be put into simple words. You will see, in the month of Shravan, barefooted devotees of Bholenath in saffron-coloured clothes, carrying Kanwar (pot) attached to a long stick (lathi), hanging from their shoulders. In the pot, they carry water that they fill from any holy river or any river or water body they consider sacred. They carry this water to any holy place that is revered for their association with Mahadev or where they wish to offer water to their deity. It is a way to show their devotion and dedication to their Aradhy Bhagwan Shiva.
Many devotees observe 16 Mondays or Solah Somwar fasting from the first Somwar of Shravan Maas. This is observed to please Bhagwan Shiva so that seeing their devotion he fulfills all their wishes.
Also, all Tuesdays (Mangalwar) of this month of Shravan are dedicated to Mata Parvati, the consort of Mahadev (Bhagwan Shiva). Fasting on Mangalvar of Shravan Maas is known as Mangal Gauri Vrat.
Other auspicious days for Hindus in Shravan Mass are Shivaratri and Hariyali Amavasya observed by devotees with great devotion. People observed an austere life all through this holy month. Avoid all types of food and consume only Satvik food. It is also believed that as the Monsoon is not a great time to experiment with food due to cloudy and wet weather, you should maintain some restraint in your eating habits as it may adversely harm you.
Also Read: Sawan Somwar: Fasting Do’s and Don’ts
On this day, usually people visit any Shiv Mandir of their choice or that is near their place of dwelling, but the most revered places of Mahadev that see a massive number of devotees are the twelve Jyotirlingas, spread across the country.
