Shravan month (Sawan) 2024: Know the starting dates, significance, rituals

The month of Shravan (Maas), also known as Sawan month in North Indian states, is considered one of the most sacred months in Hinduism. Known for its religious significance and observances, this month is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is considered auspicious to seek the blessing of Lord Shiva.

Special puja rituals and ceremonies are performed throughout the month, with Hindus seeking to deepen their connection with the divine. Notable festivals celebrated during this time include Shravan Somvar Vrat, Haryali Teej, Nag Panchami, and Raksha Bandhan.

It serves as a powerful reminder of the Hindu tradition’s emphasis on spiritual development, devotion, and the cultivation of a deeper understanding of one’s place within the cosmic order.

Although all the months have special significance in Hinduism, the month of Sawan is considered very special. Shravan month is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is believed that whatever worship is done in the month of Sawan, it gives special results. This time many wonderful coincidences are being made on Sawan.

Sawan is also special this year because the month of Sawan is starting from Monday itself. Not only this, special yogas are being made in Sawan this time. Let us know when the month of Sawan is starting and how many Mondays will be there in Sawan this time.

Shravan 2024: Dates and Timings

As per the Purnimant calendar, which is followed by North Indian states, the Shravan month starts fifteen days before the Amanta calendar. In 2024, the beginning of Sawan Monday this year starts on July 22 (Monday), in the auspicious Preeti and Sarvartha Siddhi Yog, and will end on August 19th (Monday).

Notably, this year, there’s a unique coincidence that there are five Mondays in the month of Shravan: July 22, July 29, August 5, August 12, and August 19. During this month, there are several auspicious days listed below, which are considered ideal for blessings and good fortune.

Date	Day	Occasion
July 22, 2024	Monday	First day of Shravan Month
August 2, 2024	Friday	Shravan Shivratri
August 7, 2024	Wednesday	Hariyali Teej
August 9, 2024	Friday	Nag Panchami

Combination of auspicious yogas:

With the beginning of Sawan on 22nd July, Sarvarth Siddhi Yoga is being formed from 05:37 am to 10:21 pm. Preeti Yoga will start on 21st July at 09:11 pm and will end on 22nd July at 05:58 pm. The third yoga is Ayushman Yoga which will start at 05:58 pm and will end on 23rd July at 02:36 pm.

Dates of Sawan Monday

22 July 2024 – First Monday
29 July 2024 – Second Monday
05 August 2024 – Third Monday
12 August 2024 – Fourth Monday
19 August 2024 – Fifth Monday

Shravan 2024: Significance and Rituals

Shravan is a very important month in Hinduism. It is considered the most holy month of the year and is devoted to Lord Shiva. Furthermore, the month is connected with the monsoon season, which is considered favorable for agricultural pursuits. One of the most significant ceremonies is the ‘Jal Abhishek ‘, or water offering, to the Shiva Linga. This act represents purity and dedication. Devotees also do ‘Rudra Abhishek ‘, a particular puja for Lord Shiva, to seek his heavenly blessing.

Devotees believe that worshipping Lord Shiva during this month brings benefits, prosperity, and the fulfillment of wishes. People go through several prayers and fasts to seek Lord Shiva’s heavenly blessings and spiritual progress.

Worshiping Lord Shiva in the month of Sawan yields special results. It is believed that whoever worships Mata Parvati and Lord Bholenath on this day gets happiness and prosperity. According to mythology, Mother Parvati did rigorous penance to get Lord Bholenath as her husband.

As a result, Mahadev blessed Parvati ji to accept her as his wife. It is believed that whoever worships Lord Bholenath with full devotion on Sawan Monday gets the desired bride or groom. Apart from this, keeping a fast on Sawan Monday strengthens the position of the moon in the horoscope and apart from this, the inauspicious effect of Rahu-Ketu is removed.

12 Jyotirlinga

Jyotirlinga is a Sanskrit word combined of words of Jyoti's ‘radiance’ and linga. There are 12 traditional Jyotirlinga shrines in India.

1. Somnath Jyotirlinga in Gir, Gujarat

Located in Gir Somnath, Gujarat, the Somnath is a part of the 12 popular jyotirlingas in India and is considered to be the first one that was acquired by the deity. This temple the most worshipped pilgrimage site in India which is why it is visited by thousands of devotees every year, especially on the occasion of Mahashivratri.

2. Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga in Srisailam, Andhra Pradesh

The Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga temple is perched on the hilltop of the Shri Saila Mountain. It was built around 1234AD, by the Hoysala King, Vira Narsimha and it still stands in pride, captivating the hearts of devotees by its divine essence and exquisite Dravidian style of architecture.

It is said that the shrine of Lord Shiva was installed by Arjuna, one of the Pandavas from the Epic Mahabharata. The Kumbla River close by adds to the relaxing ambiance and beauty of the place.

3. Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh

Nestled amid Mahakal forest in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh on the banks of River Kshipra is also recognized as one of the seven Mukti Sthal in the country. The Mahakaleshwar Temple is also one of the top ‘Tantra Temples’ in India.

The main highlight of this temple is its ‘Bhasm-Aarti’ that is performed as the first ritual in the morning during which the Shivlinga is bathed with the ashes taken from a fresh funeral pyre.

4. Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga in Khanda, Madhya Pradesh

Perched at the banks of the Narmada River on an island called Mandhata, Omkareshwar is a popular jyotirlinga that translates to the Lord of the Om Sound. It is believed that the island is in the shape of ‘Om’ – a spiritual symbol in Hindu Mythology.

Thousands of devotees gather here for the darshans of Omkareshwar Jyotirlinga on the occasions of Shivratri, Mahashivratri, and Kartik Poornima. Serene Vibes and picturesque views of the sacred Narmada River adds to the divinity of these shrines.

5. Baidyanath Jyotirlinga in Deoghar, Jharkhand

This temple complex is located in Deoghar in the Santhal Parganas division, adorned with the presence of 21 temples. The sacred Shivalinga existing here is decorated with precious gems. Not only it is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas but also a prominent Shakti peeth, where body parts of Goddess Shakti fell.

Baidyanath in Jharkhand has a very interesting story of origin. It is quite popular too. The tale goes like this, Ravana, a staunch believer of Lord Shiva prayed for years to invite him to Lanka. During this time, Ravana got injured too. So, when Lord Shiva arrived to meet his devotee, Ravana was not in his best shape.

Lord Shiva took it upon himself to cure Ravana, and with that, he got the name of Vaidyanath. The temple does witness a throng of pilgrims every year, especially on occasions of Maha Shivratri and Shravana months.

6. Bhimashankar Jyotirlinga in Maharashtra

The sixth Jyotirlinga, Bhimashankar Temple is a sight of unequaled grandeur. It is situated in a small village called Bhorgiri amidst the Sahyadri Hills near Pune in Maharashtra which is also one of the top trekking choices in Maharashtra.

With greenery galore on all sides of the temple, The place holds a great religious significance owing to the presence of the ‘Bhimashankar Temple’, which is home to another sacred Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. The place turns into a carnivalesque haven during Maha Shivratri with devotees coming over from various parts of the state.

7. Ramanathaswamy Jyotirlinga in Rameshwaram, Tamil Nadu

The ‘Ramanathaswamy Temple’situated at the holy town of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu is home to one of the twelve sacred Jyotirlingas. Ramanathaswamy Temple is the pillar of Lord Rama’s never-ending faith for Lord Shiva. Testimony to the fact is the name Ramanathaswamy which means Master of Rama. Also recognized as the Varanasi of the South, the Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga is also one of the most-visited holy places in the country.

8. Nageshwar Jyotirlinga in Dwarka, Gujarat

Nestled on the coast of Saurashtra, Gujarat, Nageshwar is considered to be the home of one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple every year to seek blessings from Lord Shiva who is worshipped here in the form of ‘Nagdev’.

A 25-meter-tall statue of Lord Shiva in a seated position is a great attraction of this temple and provides a perfect backdrop for a nice remembrance picture. Believed to be one of the most powerful jyotirlingas in India, the temple is a symbol of protection from all types of venom and poison.

9. Kashi Vishwanath Jyotirlinga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh

The most sacred temple to be believed is the ‘Kashi Vishwanath Temple’, in the city of Banaras/Varanasi is home to the 12th Jyotirlinga of Lord Shiva. The temple originally dates back to the 11th century and was plundered many times by Afghan and Arab invaders.

The towers of the temple are gold plated with a golden chhatri on the top. Numerous pilgrims from all over the world gather at Kashi during the festivals of ‘Makar Sankranti’, ‘Kartik Poornima’, ‘Shivratri’, ‘Maha Shivratri’, ‘Dev Diwali’ and ‘Annakoot’.

10. Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga in Nasik, Maharashtra

Located near the Brahmagiri mountain, the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga is also the place of origin of the illustrious Godavari River. It is also known as Dakshini Ganga and Gautami Ganga. Legacy of the third Peshwa, Balaji Bajirao, the magnificent Trimbakeshwar Temple lures devotees from all over the world to embrace the spiritual whirlwind within themselves.

It is believed that the one who gets the darshans of the Jyotirlinga gets all his desires fulfilled. Interestingly, unlike other Jyotirlingas, the one in Trimbakeshwar is uniquely shaped with three pillars that represent the three supreme powers, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswar.

11. Kedarnath Jyotirlinga in Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand

Kedarnath is another famous jyotirlinga in India that is inaccessible most of the year. Situated in the Himalayan Range in Uttarakhand, the ‘Kedarnath Temple’ owns a very rough climate with cold weather and snowfall, the temple remains closed for the devotees.

It is believed that a dip in the holy water of Gangotri and Yamunotri from the pond present within the Kedarnath temple will rid you of all your troubles and worries. The Kedarnath Temple is also one of the ‘Chota Char Dham’ pilgrimage sites for Hindus.

12. Ghrishneshwar Jyotirlinga in Aurangabad, Maharashtra

Located at a village called Verul, near Aurangabad in Maharashtra, the ‘Grishneshwar Temple’ dates back to the 18th century. Constructed in a Shikhara-style with gods and goddesses carved on the walls, the Grishneshwar Temple is also part of the Shiva Purana.

The temple complex is quite exciting with very beautiful carvings, sculptures, and more. It is every bit impressive and you will be left spellbound by the temple structure.