Those maize corns that have been planted at our fields have now grown bigger, the pleasure of eating roasted or boiled corn in the moist of Shrawaan has now begun beholding a specific nostalgia for a Nepali. The month of Shrawaan have been the memory and asset of an average Nepali life over centuries, May the God and the blessed clouds bless everyone.
Shrawaan also known as Shaun is the fourth month in the Bikram Sambat, the official Nepali calendar. This month coincides with July 17 to August 16 of the Western calendar and is 32 days long.
The month observes 11 that the unmarried girl keeping fast on every Monday of the month shall get the husband of her choice. The married women, however, keep the fast for the good health and prosperity of their husbands and family members.
Girls and women are also seen wearing green, yellow and red bangles on their hands and their palm decorated with mehendi.
Even in the Shiva Purana, it is mentioned that Lord Shiva, who walked along the river Ganga in his head, has became water stream himself. Shrawaan is the month of water, rainfall and its feature, Shrawaan is also the month of Shambhu and his followers, from Kailash Parwat till the north pole, from the dead sea, will the south pole, may the month of Shrawaan prevails the goodies and purity, may Lord Shiva reside in everybody\’s hearts.
The month of Shrawaan or July has started after the end of Asar. This month is also called Pavas Ritu as it rains heavily with loud thunders welcoming each and every major festivals of the year. There are many important festivals like Haritalika Teej, Rakshabandhan, Nagpanchami etc. on different dates of this month. As stated on Hindu Purana, Shrawaan, is the month of Lord Shiva, which is why every Monday of this month, Sanatan women fast and worship Lord Shiva to get a good and honest bride. Devotees also offer patram pushpam and falam-toyam to Shiva linga in this month.
Mythological interpretation on the month of Shravan states that \”Samundra Manthan\”,( ocean churning ) happened this month and then Halahal poison was released. It is also mentioned that Lord Shiva went to the Himalayas after consuming the poison, to save the world. Lord Shiva, who swallowed the poison, went to deep sleep in Gosaikunda located in Nepal, and reduced the effect of poison.
Throughout this month, the Kanvars reach the Shivasthali of their choice, without even wearing sandals on their feet until the water recedes. This religious group\’s journey and pilgrimage is called Kanvar or the Bolbom. Bombom pilgrims travel in their specific attire, every pilgrim wears yellow clothes as this is a favorite color of Lord Shiva. The Sun Shifts to the sign of Cancer from Gemini on the month of Shrawaan. Cancer Solstice is also called Shrawan solstice or Saune solstice.The month of Shravan is the holy month of the followers of the Vedic Sanatan (Hindu religion) and every Monday of this month has a special and exclusive significance. Clouds roar in this month,sky groans and thunder rises, welcoming all of us in this super romantic month of the year and upcoming all the major festivals, welcome to Shrawaan.
The first day of Shrawaan is also considered as luto falne din, let me deliver a precise focus into this prospect. As the Sun shifts to Cancer during the month of Shravan, the heat is extreme and it is constantly raining, so people are more likely to get drenched in the water when moving around. So, this is not an indoor month, irrigation and planting is done underneath the open sky where people have to play with mud, water, and natural integrals.
Therefore, due to this effect of heat and rain during the rainy months, skin, and skin-related diseases such as rashes, herpes, scabies, or sores are very likely to occur. So, In this context, Saune Sankranti is also considered as a day of curing or eliminating scabies or luto. People take a dip into rivers, apply medicinal soils or herbs to the body and medicinal shrubs to eliminate scabies or probable skin diseases. May this day of Shrawaan deliver healthy skin and pure heart, may you smile and chant Lord Shiva.
The start of Dakshinayan
The legend says that the position of the sun changes twice a year. These two changes are stated as \”Uttarayana and Dakshinayana\”. When the Sun appears from Capricorn to Gemini during 6 months, The time when the Sun enters from Cancer to Sagittarius is called Dakshinayan.
During Dakshinayan, we can see that the path of the Sun\’s orbit is gradually moving towards the south. According to the scriptures and legends, Dakshinayan is considered a symbol of negativity while Uttarayana is considered a symbol of positivity.
According to the scriptures, 6 months of Uttarayan is one day for the gods and 6 months of Dakshinayan is one night for the gods, the relative time calculation for humans and gods are defined differently in scriptures. Our years are merely a minimal fraction of a day in the time calculation of God\’s universe, the administrator of our and several other universes.
Legend has it that people who die during Uttarayan attain salvation, while those who die during Dakshinayan must be reborn, which is why these two positions of the sun are considered the path to salvation from the human world.
During Dakshinayan, nights are long and days are precisely short. In Dakshinayan, it is not considered appropriate to do special auspicious deeds like marriage, house entry, fasting etc. But since desires and pleasures increase during this time, it is believed that fasting and worship performed at this time will eradicate all the disease and grief. During Dakshinayan, there are rainy, autumn and winter seasons, so in Dakshinayan, the sky is surrounded by clouds.
May all be well at this time of Shrawaan, which is considered the best for fasting and worship. May this Dakshinayan detach us from all our greed and grids.
