| Shravana | |
|---|---|
| Calendar | Hindu calendar |
| Month number | 4 |
| Season | Rainy |
| Gregorian equivalent | July-August |
| Significant days | |
Śrāvaṇa (Sanskrit:श्रावण) is the fifthmonth of theHindu calendar. InIndia's national civil calendar, Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the year, typically beginning in mid to late July and ending in late August. In theTamil calendar, it is known as Āadi and is the fifth month of the solar year. In lunar religious calendars, Śrāvaṇa begins on the new moon (according to theamanta tradition) or the full moon (according to thepurnimanta tradition) and is the fifth month of the year.Srabon (Bengali:শ্রাবণ; also speltSravan) is the fourth month of the solarBengali calendar. It is also the fourth month of theNepali calendar. Śrāvaṇa is also the second month ofVarsha (therainy season). In the solarAssamese calendar it is the fourth month of the year, and is calledXaün.[citation needed]
The month of Shravana is very important for the entireIndian subcontinent, as it is connected to the arrival of the south-westmonsoons. For many Hindus, the month of Shravana is a month offasting. Many Hindus will fast every Monday toShiva and/or every Tuesday toParvati. This holy month is dedicated to Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. Devotees observe various rituals and practices during this time to seek blessings and spiritual growth.[1] Fasting on Tuesdays of this month is known locally as "Mangala Gauri Vrat".[2]Dashama Vrata is dedicated toDashama and is observed on the first day of Shravana as perGujarati tradition.[3]
Krishna Janmashtami marks the birth ofKrishna on the eighth day after the full moon, which is the 23rd day of Shravana according to theamanta tradition, and is celebrated with great pomp by Hindus across the world, especially those of theVaishnava traditions.[4][5]
Raksha Bandhan also calledRakhi Purnimaor simplyRakhi in many parts ofIndia andNepal, is aHindu religious festival.[6] The festival signifies and celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. It is celebrated on ShravanaPurnima (Full Moon). In simple words, Raksha bandhan means "Bond of Protection".[7]
In western India and parts ofMaharashtra,Gujarat, andGoa, Shravana Purnima (full moon) day is celebrated as Narali Purnima. On this day, an offering of a coconut (naryal inGujarati,naral inMarathi) is made to the sea, as a mark of respect to Varuna, the God of the Sea. In the coastal regions of Maharashtra i.e.Konkan, a coconut is offered to the sea for calming it down after themonsoon season. Narali Purnima is the beginning of the fishing season, and the fishermen, who depend on the sea for a living, make an offering to Varuna so that they can reap bountiful fish from the sea. Fishermen start fishing in the sea after this ceremony.[8][9]
Nag Panchami is also celebrated in many parts of India on the fifth day afterAmavasya of Shravana month. The snake godNāga is worshipped. The last day of Shravana is celebrated asPola, where thebull is worshipped by farmers from Maharashtra.[10]
In KarnatakaBasava Panchami (Kannada:ಬಸವ ಪಂಚಮಿ) is celebrated on the fifth day afteramavasya. In 1196 AD, on this day, Lingayat dharma guruBasava merged with God.[clarification needed]
In southern and central parts of India includingMaharashtra,Goa,Kerala,Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu,Karnataka andOdisha, Shravana Purnima day is when many communities perform the rituals ofAvani Avittam orUpakarma.
Shravana Purnima day is also celebrated as Balarama's birth ceremony.Krishna's elder brotherBalarama was born on this Purnima.[11][12]
Gamha Purnima is celebrated inOdisha. On this date, all the domesticated cows and bullocks are decorated and worshipped. Various kinds of country-made cakes calledpitha and sweets,mitha, are made and distributed within families, relatives and friends. In OriyaJagannath culture, the Krishna andRadha enjoy the rainy season of Shravana starting from Shukla Pakhya Ekadashi (usually four days before Purnima) and ending on Rakhi Purnima with a festival called Jhulan Yatra. Idols ofRadha-Krishna are beautifully decorated on a swing called Jhulan, hence the nameJhulan Yatra.[13][14]
In central parts of India such asMadhya Pradesh,Chhattisgarh andJharkhand Shravana Purnima day is celebrated as Kajari Purnima. It is an important day for farmers and women who have sons. On the ninth day after Shravana Amavasya, the preparations for the Kajari festival start. This ninth day is called Kajari Navami and varied rituals are performed by women who have sons until Kajri Purnima or the full moon day.[15][16][unreliable source?]
In parts ofGujarat, Shravana Purnima day is celebrated as Pavitropana. On this holiday, people perform the grand puja or the worship of Shiva. It is the culmination of the prayers done throughout the year.[17][18][19][20][21]
On Ekadashi Day [11th day], Vaishnavas in Gujarat and Rajasthan celebrate it as the birth of Pushtimarga, the path of grace. On this day, Krishna appeared in front of Vallabhacharya. Vallabhacharya offered him a thread (soothan), which was pious (pavitra). Since that day every year, Pavitra Ekadashi is celebrated. Such threads are offered from Ekadashi till Raksha Bandhan.
Jandhyam is Sanskrit for 'sacred thread', andPurnima denotes the full moon in Sanskrit. Jandhyala Purnima is observed on the full moon day (Purnima) in the month of Shravana in Andhra Pradesh. Brahmins perform the sacred thread changing ceremony on this day and it is also known as Yajurveda Nutanasahitha Upakarma.[22][23]
InHaryana andPunjab, in addition to celebrating Raksha Bandhan, people observe the festival of Salono.[24] Salono is celebrated by priests solemnly tying amulets on people's wrists for protection against evil[25][26] The day is dedicated to local saints involving devotees receiving such amulets.[27] InHaryana, the festival of Salono also involves sisters tying threads on brothers to ward off evil.[28] Despite the two festivals being similar in their practices, Salono and Raksha Bandhan are distinct observances with the threads tied for Salono being calledponchis.[29][30]
Pola is a festival respecting bulls and oxen which is celebrated by farmers in Maharashtra. Pola is a thanksgiving festival of farmers and their families for their bulls. It is celebrated in Maharashtra to acknowledge the importance of bulls and oxen, who are a crucial part of agriculture and farming activities. It falls on the last day or the new moon day of Shravana.
Shravani Mela is a major festival time atDeoghar inJharkhand with thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims bringing holy water around 100 km on foot from theGanges atSultanganj,Bihar.[31] Shravana is also the time of the annualKanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage of devotees ofShiva, known asKanwaria make to Hindu pilgrimage places ofHaridwar,Gaumukh andGangotri inUttarakhand to fetch holy waters ofGanges River[32]
Hindu saint GuruRaghavendra Swami, who advocated Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy, achieved Videha Mukti on Sraavana BahulaDwitiya in 1671.
Being the period when themonsoon falls over the heated plains of India, the season is celebrated in various texts, such as theSanskrit textMeghaduta byKalidasa. Many films too have been made withSawan in their title, likeAya Sawan Jhoom Ke, (1969),Sawan Bhadon (1970),Solva Sawan (1979),Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979),Pyaasa Sawan (1980), etc.
InHindustani classical music, many songs are themed aroundRadha andKrishna during the rainy season, and alsoBollywood songs, e.g.,Sawan ki Ritu Aai,Sawan ka Mahina Pawan kare Sor' and'Rim jhim gire Saawan'.
During Shravana, the Hindu community in the regions ofGoa,Maharashtra andKarnataka practice avegetarian diet. This is because during the monsoon season, it is difficult to get seafood; scientifically it is done to allow the breeding of fish in the ocean so that there is no extinction of fish species.[citation needed]
... Raksha Bandhan: A popular festival of Indian Sub-continent where sister ties a thread on brother's wrist, signifying love and/or seeking protection ...
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