Signification of Shravan month

The hindu calendar is based upon the movement of moon across the zodiac. The 12 months are-
1) Chaitra
2) Vaishakh
3) Jyeshtha
4) Ashaad
5) Shravna
6) Bhadrapad
7) Ashwin
8) Kaartik
9) Margshisha
10) Paussh
11) Magh
12) Phalgun
The month number 5 i.e. Shravana is very significant to the Shivaites due to the legend associated with this month. To please the goddess of wealth Mahalakshmi, the gods and demon decided to churn ocean. It was pre decided that what ever things emit from the ocean would be share between Gods and demons. During this process, 14 divine items were emerged from the ocean. Of the fourteen items, one item was the most deadly poison called Halahal. No body was the taker of the Halahal poison. This created panic among Gods and demons. At this crunch time Lord Shiva appeared to save the earth from destruction. He accepted the pot of poison and drank in such a manner that the poison could not able to surpass his throat. The effect of the poison was so strong that the whole throat turned blue. Since then lord Shiva named as NeelKanth(means blue throat) . To mitigate the effect of poison, gods rushed to offer ganga jal(water of holy river ,ganga). The whole event was held in the month of Shravana. Since then this month of Shravana is totally dedicated to lord Shiva. Though the whole shravana month is auspicious for worshipping Lord Shiva, but the Mondays falling in this month has special significance as the ruling deity of Monday is Lord Shiva. The golden rule is that Jap(recitationof mantra) done in particular place or in particular time has special significance as its effects increases many times. So, this was the Mahatmayam(significance) of Shravan maas(month)……

Panch Mahayagya

There are 5 sacrifices or the duties which has to be performed by a brahmin everyday. These rituals are called "Panch Mahayagya" which means 5 great sacrifices. These rituals are very essential for spiritual development in life.These 5 rituals are as follows
1)Dev-yagya
2)Pitra-yagya
3)Bhuta-yagya
4)Manushya-yagya
5)Brahma-yagya.
The Devyagya means prayer to God.This can also be done by making offerings to fire called homa. The Pitra-yagya is offerings to forefathers to get their blessings. They are so important that there effects can be seen in the life in the form of “Pitra-dosham”, if it is not done under certain conditions. One should never forget to perform the “Tarpan” ceremony for the ancestors at teeraths(pilgrims). This ceremony signifies offering water to the departed souls of ancestors.Offerings made to animals and birds and plants constitute Bhoota-yagya. In Manushya yagya, offerings are made to guests. It is believe that guest is considered at par with God. As per saying if guest leave the house disappointedly, then he will walk away with all the punyas of the host leaving behind his sins. So,utmost care has to be taken in entertaining the guest. The brahma yagya can be performed by following the path shown by our sages and our scriptures. One should study our scriptures.

Parikrama

In a famous story Lord Ganesha performed Parikrama around his parents which was considered equivalent to the journey around the universe. Parikrama means circumambulation or moving around in a circle. It is also known as Pradaskshina.The word “Pradakshina” means “towards right”. In religious context this journey is performed around temple,holy tree,holy hill and river. This is done in a clockwise direction. Only during inauspicious occasion like death ceremony,parikrama is performed anticlockwise .The circular journey around the deity can be understood with an example that in geometry we need a center to draw a circle and from the centre all the points on the circle are equidistant. It indicates we are equally close to God. Symbolically this ritual indicate touching the feet of deity. In another variation, at the end of the puja , it is a custom to do parikrama around ourselves three times. This is called “ Atma Pradakshinam”. This is to invoke the god in itself and to express the gratitude to HIM. We all are the part(ansh) of supreme soul. Generally odd number of parikrama is considerd auspicious. For Example , 1 parikrama around Lord Ganesha, Half parikrama around Shivlingam,3 parikrama around Lord Vishnu, 5 parikrama around Lord Kaartikay and 7 parikrama around peepal tree is considered auspicious. Many classics considered 21,27 or 108 numbers as auspicious to perform parkirama. While performing parikrama, an invisible link is established between a person and deity. The mantras pronounced during the circumambulation holds the key of transferring the energies from the god to a person. Always make sure that parikrama should be performed slowly while chanting mantras.

Legend behind Dhan Teras

Dhanteras is also known as Yamadeepdaan and lamps are kept burning through the night to pray Lord Yama to keep away death and despair. A very interesting story about this day is associated to the sixteen year old son of King Hima. As per his horoscope he was doomed to die by a snake-bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that fateful fourth day of his marriage his young wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid all the ornaments and lots of gold and silver coins in a big heap at the entrance of her husband's palatial room and lighted infinite numbers of lamps all over the place. After all these, she went on telling stories and singing songs so that her husband is not able to sleep. When Yam, the god of Death arrived there appearing in form of a Serpent his eyes got blinded by the dazzle of those brilliant lights and he could not enter the Prince's chamber. Thus the young wife saved her husband from the clutches of death. Since then this day of Dhanteras came to be known as the day of "Yamadeepdaan" and lamps are kept burning throughout the night in remembering Yam, the god of Death. Thirteen lamps made of wheat flour and lit with oil are placed outside the house, facing southwards (direction of Lord Yama), in the evening. A lamp is never kept facing southwards except on this day.

Legend 2- Sage Durvasa cursed Lord Indra due to which Godess Laxmi abandon him. The demons, attacked heaven and defeated Lord Indra.Brihaspati, the Deva Guru found a solution. For that the ocean of milk had to be churned to become potent ambrosia, which, if consumed by the gods, would bring immortality. The churning would also bring back Lakshmi. Mandara Mountain was used as a churning rod and Vasuki, the king of the serpents, as a rope & Lord Vishnu, who took the form of a tortoise and lifts the mountain on his back. During the churning the divine goddess raised from the depths of the ocean of milk. She stood on a fully blossomed lotus, wearing a garland of lotus and neck. The sages began reciting hymns in praise of her. Gandharvas sang and Apsaras danced. Even the elephants on either side of her, sprinkled sacred Ganga water on her, bathing her with it, letting her be called Gajalakshmi. As she was born from the ocean of milk, she was referred to as Samudratanya. The king of the ocean appeared in his natural form and welcomed Lakshmi as a daughter The gods and demons continued to churn the ocean for Amrit. Ultimately, Dhanavantri emerged from the ocean of milk, carrying a jar of the amrit. Both the asuras and the devas wanted the ambrosia, but Vishnu was able to give the immortal nectar to the gods, and the asuras were defeated. The churning of the ocean resulted in the immortality of the devas and was the reason for Lakshmi's emergence.

Contributed by
Mr Gaurav Rustagi ji