I like the month of Shravan the most among the twelve months. Its greatness is worth hearing. Just by listening to it one attains success. On the full moon day of this month, the moon is in Shravan Nakshatra, hence its name ‘Shravan’. By merely listening to the greatness of this holy month, a person attains accomplishment and salvation.
Why is water offered to Shiva?
According to mythology, the churning of the ocean took place in the month of Sawan. Shiva took the Halahal poison in his throat to protect the universe and was called Neelkanth. To cool down the heat of poison, all the gods had offered water to Mahadev, hence there is a tradition of offering water on Shivalinga in this month. This is also the purpose of the Kanwar Yatra held in this month.
Mother Parvati did penance
Parvati had performed rigorous fasting and penance in the month of Sawan to attain Shiva. Pleased with this, Shiva accepted Parvati as his wife on the day of Hariyali Teej. It was in the month of Shravan that Shiva went to his in-laws’ house on earth with Parvati. There he was welcomed with Arghya and Jalabhishek, hence Shiva Puja has special significance in this month.
Child Markandeya is blessed with eternal life
According to the story of Shiv Purana, Maharishi Markandeya, the young son of Rishi Mrikandu and his wife Marudvati, was sitting in front of Shivling and chanting Mahamrityunjaya Mantra in the month of Sawan, when Yamraj threw the noose of death on him. At that very moment Shiva appeared. He ordered Yamraj to take back his noose. Also, child Markandeya was blessed with eternal life.
Who was born in Sawan?
Along with this, Amarnath Yatra starts every year in the month of Ashadha and ends on the day of Shravan Purnima (Rakshabandhan). Luv-Kush were born in Valmiki Ashram on the day of Shravan Purnima. According to Skanda Purana, Kashikhand, one attains salvation by residing in Kashi in the month of Shravan and worshiping Shiva. According to popular belief, Tulsidas was born and died on the Saptami of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month, hence this day is celebrated as Tulsi Jayanti. The arrival of Lord Kalki, the tenth and last incarnation of Vishnu, will also take place on the Shashthi of Shukla Paksha of Shravan month, hence this day is celebrated as Kalki Jayanti.
Nag Devta was also born in this month
Eight snake deities are worshiped on the Panchami date of Shukla Paksha of the month of Sawan, hence this day is called Nag Panchami. According to the legend, on the fifth day of Shukla Paksha of Sawan month, Krishna danced on the hood of Kaliya Naga in Vrindavan and saved the lives of people by defeating him. From then onwards he was called Krishna Nathaiya. According to another mythological story, on this day, the creator of the universe, Brahma, by his grace adorned Sheshnag and after he assumed the weight of the earth, people started worshiping the snake god, since then this tradition of snake worship has been going on.