Best ways to Worshiping Lord Shiva in Sawan Month

Worshiping lord shiva during the sawan month also known as shravan is considered highly auspicious and spiritually rewarding. This period is dedicated to lord shiva, and devotees believe that performing rituals and worshiping him during sawan can bring immense blessings and remove obstacles from their lives. Here’s a detailed guide on how to worship lord shiva during the sawan month:

Understanding the Sawan Month

Sawan, also known as shravan, is the fifth month in the Hindu calendar and usually falls in July and august. It is named after the star “shravana” which is associated with lord Vishnu, another significant deity in Hinduism. This month is dedicated to lord shiva and each Monday known as shravan somvar is considered highly auspicious for his worship.

Significance of Worshiping Lord Shiva During Sawan

According to Hindu mythology, sawan is the month when lord shiva drank the poison that worshiping lord shiva during this time helps purify the soul, fulfill desires and bring peace and prosperity. Fasting and rituals performed during sawan are believed to yield manifold benefits compared to other times of the year.

Preparation for Worship   

• Purity and cleanliness: Ensure that the place of worship is clean and tidy. Take a bath early in the morning before starting the worship. Wearing clean clothes, preferably white or light colored is recommended.
• Setting up the altar: Arrange a clean and serene space for the altar where a shiva lingam or an image/ Idol of lord shiva is placed. Decorate the altar with fresh flowers, preferably white and yellow and light incense sticks and a lamp (diya).

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Gathering Worship Materials

• Water and panchamrit for bathing the shiva lingam.
•  Bilva leaves (bel patra): essential for shiva worship.
• Milk, honey, yogurt, ghee, and sugar. Components of panchamrit.
• Rice, sandalwood paste, and bhasma (sacred ash).
• Fruits, sweets and naivedya (food offering).
•   Rudrakhsha mala for chanting mantras.

Daily Rituals and Practices

Performing Abhishekam: 

• Abhishekam is the ritual bathing of the shiva lingam. It is performed using various substances, each with its own significance.
•  Water abhishekam represents purity and removal of sins.
•  Milk abhishekam symbolized the nourishment of the soul.
• Honey and sugar abhishekam, presents sweetness and kindness.
• Ghee abhishekam, signifies the removal of negative energies.
• Panchamrit abhishekam, a mixture of milk, yogurt, ghee, and sugar, representing the five essential elements of life.

Offering bilva leaves

•   Bilva leaves are considered extremely sacred in shiva worship. Each leaf should ideally have three leaflets, symbolizing lord shiva trident (trishul). While offering the leaves, recite the mantra” OM NAMAH SHIVAYA” and place them on the shiva lingam.

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Chanting mantras:

Recite the maha mrityunjaya mantra, which is believed to invoke lord shiva’s blessings for health and protection.

          “ॐ हौं जूं सः ॐ भूर्भुवः स्वः ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृ त्योर्मुक्षीय      मामृतात् ॐ स्वः भुवः भूः ॐ सः जूं हौं ॐ। ॐ जूं स माम् पालय पालय स: जूं ॐ। “

Chanting “OM NAMAH SHIVAYA” is also highly beneficial. It can be repeated 108 times using a rudraksha mala.

Performing aarti

Conclude the worship by performing aarti a ritual involving the waving of a lit devotional hymns. Distribute the aarti to family members and apply the sacred ash (bhasma) on the forehead.

Fasting and special observances

• Observing shravan vrat (Monday): Fasting on Monday during sawan is a common practice among devotees. It is believed to be especially pleasing to lord shiva. There are different types of fasts, ranging from consuming only fruits and milk to a complete fast without food and water. Spend the day in prayer, chanting, mantras, and reading shiv puran or other scriptures related to lord shiva.
• Solah somvar vrat: some devotees extend their fasts to 16 consecutive Mondays, known as blessings from lord shiva. This vrat involves more rigorous discipline and devotion, and it concludes with a special puja on the 16th Monday.

Also Read: The Power of Sawan Somvar Fast

Special Rituals and Celebrations

•  Kanwar yatra: Kanwar yatra is a pilgrimage undertaken by devotees to fetch holy water from sacred rivers like Ganga, Yamuna,or Narmada, and offer it to shiva temples. The pilgrims known as kanwariyas, carry the water in a small vessel and travel barefoot, singing devotional songs and chanting “Bol Bam”.

Rudra abhishekam

• Rudra abhishekam is a highly auspicious and elaborate ritual performed to appease lord shiva. It involves the chanting of powerful vedic mantras and hymns, such as the rudram while performing abhishekam with various sacred substances. This ritual is believed to invoke lord shiva’s blessings for prosperity, health, and spiritual growth.

Conclusion

Worshiping lord shiva during the sawan month is a deeply spiritual and rewarding practice.  By following these rituals and observances with devotion and sincerity, devotees can experience profound spiritual growth and receive lord shiva divine blessings. Whether through daily worship, fasting or participating in special rituals the key is to maintain a pure heart and unwavering faith in the divine power of lord shiva.