Shravan - The Holy Month for Hindu's

Shravanamasam - The Holy Month of Hindu's - 2012


Shravan Month - 2012

Sharvan [Shavana Masam / Shravanamasam] is one of the most auspious month for Hindu’s, especially followers of Lord Shiva, famously known as Shaivists. [the people who follow lord Shiva,  one of the two famous gods which Hindu’s preach and follow, Shaivists, and Viashnavists [followers of lord Vishnu]

Shravana Masam is the most important month for Hindu women, especially the Monday’s of the Month.

During this month, some of the most important events like Naga Chaturthi [Naga Panchami], Varalakshmi Vratam, and Sri Krishna Jayanthi, falls on Mondays of the Month. For the Year 2012, the Shravan month falls starts on July 20th and ends on August 17th

Evolution of Shravan Month:

It is believed that during the Churning of oceans [sagara madhanam], [Samudra manthan] was said to take place in this Month.

Mount Mandarachala is worn as churning rod, adding to it lord Vasuki  became the rope, to conduct the Sagara madhanam.

During Samudra Manthan, process fourteen different types of things came out while churning the ocean, out of which almost 13 of them where divided among the demons except the fourteenth one. I.e. POISON [halahala], as it was dangerous which came out no one of the entire devas were ready to accept it , and finally Lord Shiva who took the Halahala [Poison] [he drank it] in to his throat. [This is the reason he is also known as Garalam thagina devudu in Telugu]

Since the day of consuming Halahala Lord Shiva was known as Neelakanta [Neelkantha] mean to say Blue Throated person. Post to which Neelkantha is the name associated with Lord Shiva

To reduce the effect of Halahala Shiva wore the Moon on his head, after this all the gods [devas] started offering the Water to God Shiva to reduce the effect of Halahala [poison] [this is also the reason why most of the Shiva’s pictures depict water on this head.]

AS this happened during the month of Shravana, and lord Shiva has goddess Ganga on his head, people offer Ganges water during this auspicious month, and it is also considered as the most auspicious month to wear Rudraksha

As the Mondays are devoted to officer prayers to lord Shiva, all Mondays of the shravana month Hindu women in the honor of lord Shiva, keep their fast for the entire day.

Varalakshmi Vratam

“Varalakshmi Vratam” is the most important pooja performed by women in the month of Sravanamasam, it is done on one of the Sravana Shukravaram of Sravanamasam, mostly the second Friday.

In this month every Tuesday  pooja of  Mangalagouri  vratam is performed and pooja of Mahalakshmi is performed on Every Friday .

VaraLakshmi Vratham is performed either on 2nd firday of the  Sravana maasam or before the firday of full moon day (Pournami).

Vara means godsend [boon].

Performing pooja (Vratam) to Varalakshmi will bring in benefits to people who perform it  with utmost devotion and discipline .

The Eight Forces which are considered to be recognized and pleased are

·         Sri (Known for Wealth)

·         Bhu (Known as Earth)

·         Sarasvati (Goddess of learning)

·         Priti ( Known for love)

·         Kirti (Known as Fame)

·         Shanti (Known as Peace)

·         Tushti(For Pleasure in Life)

·         Pushti (To give Strength)

Each of these forces are called and known as Lakshmi and all eight forces together called as Ashta Lakshmis. 

Saraswati Mata

Saraswati Mata is also known by different names the most commonly used names are  SARASWATI, SHARADA, PUSTAKA DHARINI, VEENA PANI, VIDYA DAYINI.

Mata Saraswati is depicted as the most beautiful woman goddess among st the different goddess and she is always dressed in a pure white saree.

Mata Saraswati is always portrayed as sitting on a white lotus with Veena (a musical instrument of Indian origin) or with a book, the book in her hands depicts and signifies the eternal knowledge, Lotus symbolizes the absolute reality and goddess herself follows the absolute reality, the White Saree represents the purity and the Swan represents the bias between the evil & the good.The four arms of the goddess suggest the four aspects i.e Mind, Vigilence, Intellect and ego of human personality.The pearl string represents the supremacy of spirituality.

With the Physical appearance of goddess it suggests the humans to be cautious and to be wise with TRUTH, as Dharma is the True Place

Saraswati Mata - Lakshmi Devi - Ganesha

Saraswati Mata - Lakshmi Devi - Ganesha

The above mentioned pictures are the Most commonly found Pictures of Hindu Gods, across almost all the homes of India.

The Following is the Significance and reasons on why these are the most commonly found Pictures in the homes of India

Ganesha: Among all the Gods of Hinduism, Ganesha is worshiped First before the start of any new thing, to the matter of the fact even the start of the day is started by offering the first prayer to Ganesha

Saraswati Mata: Saraswati Mata is the goddess of Education, Gyan, Knowledge, Music &  Arts, She is known as the Consort of Brahma, and the start of all Good things in this world. The Pictures are always portrayed with Wither Music Instruments Like Veena or  with Books sitting on Swan.

Saraswati Mata is also known by different names across the country, however the most commonly used names are  SARASWATI, SHARADA, PUSTAKA DHARINI, VEENA PANI, VIDYA DAYINI.

Lakshmi Devi: Lakshmi Devi is the goddess of Prosperity, Wealth & Happiness, it is strongly believed that worshiping Lakshmi Devi will relieve them from bad luck and protect them from Money related sorrows, she is the also known as the consort of Lord Vishnu.

Worshiping Lakshmi Mata is believed to get Fortune, Good luck and success, and she is also known as MAHALAKSHMI.

Saraswathi Matha