Shravan Somwar Vrat

Actually, every day is dedicated to some Deity or Deities. Among them, Monday is mainly dedicated to Lord Shankar and Mother (mata) Parvati. The fast observed every Monday is called Somwar Vrat(Monday’s fast). But the Monday fast observed in the month of Shravan has great importance. On this day, worshiping Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati with devotion and having darshan of them brings happiness, peace and prosperity in the life of the person. By observing fast on Monday, all the sorrows and obstacles coming in the way of success in a person's life are eliminated. The fast observed on every Monday of Shravan month is going to give the desired results to the person.

When to start Monday fast

According to religious beliefs, Monday fast give the blessings of Lord Mahadev is considered very auspicious in the month of Savan. You can start this fast from any Monday in the month of Savan. If for some reason you are not able to start the Monday fast in the month of Savan, then you can also do it in the months of Chaitra, Vaishakh, Margashirsha. It is considered very auspicious to start Monday fast on the first Monday of Shukla Paksha of these months.

If you want to observe Monday fast, you can observe16 Monday’s fast but after this there is rule of Closing Ceremony (Udyapan). If you want to pursue it further as per your wish and physical capacity, you can do it. There is legislation to observe Lord Shiva's Monday fast for 5 years. If you are going to observe Monday fast as per your wish, then you can resolve the number of Monday fasts and do it from the first Monday falling in the month of Shravan .

Method of worship

The worship method of all the fasts, Shravan Monday fast and Sixteen Monday fast, is the same.

A person observing a fast should wake up in the morning, finish all his work, take a bath etc. and purify himself. Water and Wood apple leaves (Bel Patra) should be offered to Lord Shiva and Shiva-Gauri should be worshipped. After worshiping, one should listen to the story of Monday fast. One should not eat food throughout the day. If you want, you can consume fruits. Food should be eaten without salt in the evening. This fast is observed only throughout the day.

Story of Monday fast

There are many stories of the glory of Lord Shiva, but this story is a verified from Skandapuran. Those who have devotion to Lord Shiva in their mind and listen to this story they get free from the bondage of this world and attain salvation. The virtuous story of Monday fast is :-

Once upon a time there was a king named Chitravarma ruled in Aryavarta. He was like Yamraj to punish the wicked. He punished the misguided people and supported those who performed all kinds of yagyas and took refuge in them. He had great devotion in Lord Mahadev and Lord Shri Hari. Chitravarma, after having many valiant and strong sons, got a beautiful daughter named Seemantini. King Chitravarma called the scholars who knew the merits, demerits and symptoms and showed them to his daughter. A learned scholar said that this girl would be like the most beautiful Saraswati, knowing all the arts and adorned with virtues like Lakshmi. She will enjoy perfect happiness with her husband for ten thousand years. After this, another scholar told that this girl will become a widow in her fourteenth year. Hearing such words of the scholars, King Chitravarma was immersed in grief for a moment. Then after bidding farewell to the scholars, the king stopped worrying and thought that 'everything happens as per fate'. Simantini gradually grew up. Simantini felt very sad after hearing the statement given by the scholar from her friend . Feeling worried, she asked Maitreyi, wife of sage Yajnavalkya – 'Mata! I have come to you for refuge, teach me good deeds that increase my good fortune. Hearing Simantini 's words, Maitrayi said - Beautiful! You go to the shelter of Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva and keep observing fast on every Monday. By the grace of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati, you will be free from even the biggest obstacles. No matter how big the crisis may be, do not stop worshiping. With the effect of fasting on Monday, you will be able to overcome even the worst fear. Thus giving assurance to Simantini, Maitreyi went to the ashram. The princess started fasting on Monday as per her promise.

King Indrasen, who was the son of King Nala and Damayanti, had a son named Chandragad. King Chitravarma married his daughter Seemantini to Chandragad, son of Indrasen. Chandragad stayed in his in-laws' house for some time after marriage.

One day Chandragad boarded a boat with his friends to go to Yamuna. Unfortunately, that boat sank in Yamuna along with the sailors. There was an outcry on both the banks of Yamuna. Among those who drowned in Yamuna, some died, some went into the stomachs of aquatic animals and some became invisible in that dragnet of Yamuna. Hearing this news, Chitravarma became very distraught and after coming to the banks of Yamuna, due to great grief, he fell unconscious there. Then, on the persuasion of some ministers and elders, Chitravarma came to his city. Chitravarma got his son-in-law's last rites performed by Chandragad's family members who had come there. Seemantini also wanted to commit sati (burning ourself) with her husband, but out of love, Chitravarma stopped his daughter from doing so. Despite all this, Seemantini continued to observe Monday fast as a widow. Three years passed while she worshiped Shiva. On the other hand, Indrasen, who was in mourning, was forcefully suppressed by his brothers, who took away the kingdom and put him and his wife into exile.

Here Chandragad drowned in the high waters of Yamuna and reached the underworld. The new married womens(snake wives) were playing in the underworld. When she saw the prince, she took him to the palace of Takshak Naga. Seeing the prince, Takshak Naga asked those serpents - 'Who is this and where has he come from?' They replied that we have seen it in Yamuna water, because of not knowing its family, name and address, I have brought it to you. Then Takshak Naga asked the prince 'Whose son are you?' Who are you? Which country is yours? ,

The king's son said- There is a country on earth called Nishadha. The king there, Nala , is considered to be a saint, his son was Indrasen and his son is me, my name is Chandragad. I had just got married and was staying at my in-laws' house and drowned while swimming in the Yamuna waters. These snake wives brought me to you. Today I got the fruits of my good deeds in my previous birth. Today I am blessed to have your sight. Hearing this, Takshak Naga became very happy and spoke very beautiful words – Prince! Don't be afraid, be patient and tell me, whom do you worship among all the gods?

The prince said - I worship Lord Shiva, the Lord of all deities, who is Lord Mahadev, the Lord of all deities.

Hearing this, Takshak Naga became very happy and said - I am happy with you, look, this is a world full of gems, there is Kalpavriksha (God of Trees) which fulfills the desired wishes, here there is neither the pain of old age nor any kind of sorrow. You live here as per your wish and enjoy the happiness as per your convenience.

When Nagraj said this, the prince folded his hands and said – Nagraj! I just got married. My wife is a good fast follower and devotee of Shiva. I am the only son of my parents. They would be surrounded by great grief at this time considering me dead. Therefore, I should not stay here for long.

Hearing this, Nagraj Takshak said- Whenever you remember me, I will appear infront of you. Having said this, he along with all the attendants gave many gems and jewelery and presented a divine horse which would move as per the wish. And go, may you be blessed, Nagraj give him farewell.

Chandragad, mounted on a horse, came out of the waters of Yamuna within a short time. Simantini had come for bath on the same back. She saw the prince riding on the horse along with the Nagarajas in human form. Chandragad also saw Simantini . The prince came closer and asked Simantini - Whose wife are you? what is your name? Whose daughter are you? Seemantini could not say anything out of embarrassment , then one of her friends said – She is the daughter of Chitravarma. She is the wife of Chandragad, son of Indrasen. Unfortunately, her husband drowned in the Yamuna river, her father-in-law's kingdom has also been taken away by her brothers by force and her Father-in-law and Mother-in-law have been imprisoned. She is very sad because her husband drowned. Today is Monday so she has come to the banks of Yamuna to take bath. When the friend told all the things, Simantini started crying bitterly and asked the prince - Who are you? And why are you listening to me out of affection? It seems to me that you are my own. Because my heart is falling in love only for you. Drowned in grief, Chandragad also remained silent for while. The prince said - You will definitely meet your husband. May you be well. Saying this, Chandragad left from there towards his city. After examining the prince's body parts, symptoms and words, Simantini started thinking - It seems that this is my husband, but can a widow see her dead husband? Is this the result of my Monday fast worship? Maitreyi Mata had said that by fasting and worshiping on Monday, you will overcome even the greatest sorrow. A scholar had said that I would live happily with my husband for ten thousand years. Thinking this, Simantini returned to the palace with her friends.

Here Chandragad came to his city with the Nagkumars and sent the Nagkumars to their family members who had forcefully snatched away Indrasen's kingdom. Nagkumars said to those family members - All of you free Maharaj Indrasen from prison and leave the throne. Maharaj's son Chandragad has returned from the underworld and has come here. After drowning in Yamuna water, he reached the house of Nagraj Takshak. After getting their help from there, he returned here again. If you people refuse to step down from the throne, Chandragad's arrows will take your lives. Hearing this, the family members of King Chandragad, overcome with fear, freed King Indrasen from prison and returned the throne. When King Indrasen got the news of his son's return, tears welled up in his eyes and he became distraught after seeing his son. Same was the condition of the queen also. At the same time Chandragad reached his parents and bowed at their feet, seeing this the king took his son to his heart and King Indrasen got his son crowned.

Indrasen conveyed the news of the return of his son Chandragad to Chitravarma. King Chitravarma became elated after receiving the news and got the signs of widowhood removed from his daughter and made her wear gems and jewellery. After this, Chitravarma sent his daughter Seemantini away from his house along with Chandragad, after which they started living happily. Simantini and Chandragad enjoyed a wide variety of subjects for ten thousand years. Seemantini started living happily by worshiping Lord Shiva every day.Thus, due to the effect of Monday fast, Simantini regained her lost good fortune.