Sawan Somwar 2024: Who started the Sawan Monday fast, know from the scriptures what is the method of worship

Sawan Monday 2024: Lord Shiva is the main deity of Monday. The fast observed on this day is considered to be fruitful. But in the scriptures, the Somvar fast of Shravan month (Sawan Month 2024) is considered special. Let’s see what the scriptures say about Shravan Monday.

According to Skanda Purana Shravan Mahatmya Chapter 6, Lord Shiva says that the Sun is my eye; its greatness is so great, then what to say about that Monday named after me along with Uma (Som)? Its greatness is worth describing to me, Som is the name of the moon; Som is called the means of Yagyas. Because Monday is my form, hence it is called Som. That is why it is the provider and best of the entire kingdom.

Importance of Sawan Monday Fast (Sawan Somvar Vrat Importance)

This fast gives the fruit of the entire kingdom to the one who observes it. Its method is as follows. Among the twelve months, Sawan is the best. If in those months [सोमवार व्रत] If you are unable to do it, then you must do it in the month of Shravan. By observing this fast in this month, a person gets the benefits of fasting for the whole year. On the first Monday of the Shukla Paksha in Shravan, take a resolution that “I will observe this fast according to the rules; may Lord Shiva be pleased with me.”

In this way, take this resolution on all four Mondays and if it becomes five, then take this resolution in the morning and worship Lord Shiva in the night. Worship Lord Shiva with sixteen remedies and listen to this divine story with concentration. The method of this Monday fast is as follows.

Sawan Somvar Vrat Vidhi

Start this great fast on the first Monday of the month of Shravan. A person should take a good bath, purify himself, wear white clothes and give up lust, anger, ego, hatred, slander etc. and bring white flowers like Malti, Mallika etc. Apart from these, worship Lord Shiva with various other flowers and desired worship rituals with the root mantra ‘Tryambak’. After this, say – I meditate on Sharva, Mahadev, Ugra, Ugranath, Bhava, Shashimauli, Rudra, Neelkanth, Shiva and Bhavahari, in this way worship Lord Shiva with beautiful rituals according to your ability.

Listen to the merits of the one who observes this fast. Those who worship Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati on Mondays, attain Akshay Loka without any recurrence. Lord Shiva briefly explains the merits of observing Nakhtvrat in this month. Lord Shiva says that the sins accumulated in seven births, which are invincible even for gods and demons, are destroyed by eating Nakhtvrat.

By doing this, the person who wants wealth gets wealth; he gets whatever he desires. After enjoying the desired pleasures for a long time in this world, at last he gets respect in Rudralok by boarding a great plane. Mind is fickle, wealth is fickle and life is also fickle – understanding this, one should do the concluding ceremony of the fast with effort. An idol of Shiva and Parvati made of gold seated on a silver bull should be made according to one’s capacity. One should not be stingy in spending money on this (if one is not capable, then worship in a picture or a stone idol).

Thereafter, make a divine and auspicious Lingtobhadra Mandal and place a pitcher covered with two white clothes in it. Place a vessel made of copper or bamboo on top of the pitcher and place Shiva with Uma on it. After this, worship Shiva with the mantras mentioned in Shruti, Smriti and Puranas, make a pavilion of flowers and put a beautiful canopy over it. Keep a night vigil in it with the melodious sound of musical instruments.

Then the wise man should establish the fire according to the rules specified in his Grihya Sutra and then offer one hundred and eight offerings from the Samidhas of Palash in the eleven best names like Sharva etc. Offer Yav, Brihi, Sesame seeds etc. with the mantra ‘Aapyayasva0’ and offer the offering of Bilva leaves with ‘Tryambak0’ or Shadakshar Mantra (Om Namah Shivay).

After this, after performing the svishtkrit homa and giving Purnahuti, worship the Acharya. After this, give all the material offered to the worshipped deity to the Acharya and then pray- “May my fast be complete and may Lord Shiva be pleased with me.” After that, eat happily with friends. With this rule, the person who observes this fast, gets whatever he desires and finally attains Shiva-lok and is worshipped in that lok.

Do you know who started Shravan Monday?

According to Skanda Purana Shravan Mahatmya 6.34–

“Krishnacharitam Purva Somvaravratam Shubham”

Lord Shri Krishna was the first to observe this auspicious Monday fast. Great, theistic and religious kings also observed this fast. One who listens to this fast every day also gets the benefits of observing this fast.

Scientific side of keeping Somavar fast or any other fast:-

Along with the scriptures, let us now look at the scientific side. We think according to today’s era. We consume only tamasic food for 30 days of every month, due to which the body becomes diseased and our lifespan also decreases. There are two Ekadashi in every month, monthly Shivratri comes and many other festivals are associated with every month. Therefore, the sages have suggested a very good and simple way to increase your lifespan and increase interest in spirituality. The more fasts you keep, the more your body and mind will be Satvik.

Because during the fast we eat only roots and tubers etc. which are nutritious for our body, it is not tamasic food. If you keep fasts on all the festivals, then in a way you get purified. It is necessary to detoxify the body too, fasting is the best way for that. Fasting not only increases your lifespan but also increases your spiritual philosophy.

Also read: Sawan Third Somwar 2024: The third Monday of Sawan is special, please Lord Shiva on this day, know the method of worship