This fast is done by ladies for their good luck, for getting desired offspring and for the eradication of poverty
According to Bhavishya Purana all fasts and the pilgrimages of this world cannot even touch the glory of one sixteenth division of this Somvaar Vrata. People who worship Lord Shiva on Monday succeed in gratifying their all types of wishes. This fast should be observed for attaining good luck, glory and reputation. Childless people can get children and the poor can gain wealth. All sorts of fears and sorrows get eradicated. This fast is very auspicious for the long life of the husbands of ladies.
The deity of this fast is Moon & lord Shiva which are also considered as the symbols of peace and coolness. This bestows mental peace and a big relief to our heart. This is considered auspicious for the eradication of eyes related problems. One gets rid of all sorts of troubles by performing this fast if observed with devotion.
This fast should be started from the first Monday of bright half of Shravna, Chaitra, Vaishakha, Jyeshtha, Kartika or Margsheersha months of Hindu calendar. This fast should be done 10 times at least. One can do it for 5 years or one year.
Method : Wear white cloth visit the temple of Shiva. Worship Lord Shiva by offering white flowers and milk of cow. 'Om Namah Shivay’ this Mantra should be recited or three to 11 rosaries of following Mantra of Moon can also be recited :
Mantra
God - Om Namah Shivay
ऊँ श्रां श्रीं श्रौं सः चन्द्रमसे नमः।
"Om Shrang Shreeng Shraung Sah Chandramase Namah”
Have food only once in the day before or after sun set. After performing worship ceremony read Somwar Vrata Katha. You should eat curd, rice or Kheer (rice boiled in milk with sugar). While doing Udyapan (ceremony of completion) one has to perform Homa (sacred fire ceremony) with the wood of Palash tree ( Butea foudosa). People generally do this Udyapan after completing 16 fasts.
Significance of Monday Fasting in Savan
Shravan is the month when the Monsoons are at its peak in India. This month is held in special reverence by the devotees of Lord Shiva. This is because, Shravan is the special month of Lord Shiva. It is believed that worship of Shiva during Shrawan month is 108 times more powerful. Mondays, or Somvar, in the month of Shravan (July – August) is considered highly auspicious for praying to Lord Shiva as the month of Sawana is very dear to Lord Shiva. Especially, the 4 Mondays that come in the month of Shravan are very auspicious. The Shravan Shiva vrat is one of the important religious customs associated with Lord Shiva.
People observe fast on every Monday of Shravan month and worship Lord Shiva with enthusiasm and faith. According to the ancient belief, those who perform Monday fasting are blessed with happiness and all the pleasures & all the desires are fulfilled. Donation and charity made on this day gives fruits equivalent to that of visiting Jyotirlinga.
People have their own purpose to observe this fast. Some observe it for long life, happy married life or for happiness and prosperity of children. Sawan Somvar Fast provides wealth, luxury and progress of progeny. The Shravan Shiva vrat is particularly significant for women. Both married and unmarried keep this fast for different reasons. Usually, unmarried women keep the Shravan Somvar vrat so that they find good husbands. Married women keep this fast to pray for the long life of their husband. Keeping this fast is also supposed to ensure a long and happy marital life.
Hindu women wear red attire as well as green and yellow bangles & pray for the long and prosperous life of their husbands. This month is all about henna tattoos, or Mehendi, as it is locally called. There is something very trendy about the beautiful henna tinges, which makes it every female’s favorite. Also, Shrawan is the month believed to bring auspices to mehendi wearers.
There are also some people who fast throughout the month of Shravan. They stick to certain types of foods like sabudana and fruits are commonly eaten. People following the Shravan Shiva vrat religiously have only one meal every single day in the entire month. They eat food without salt at the time of fasting. Lord Shiva is worshipped with Belpatra on this day as it is believed that Lord Shiva resides in the roots of bel patra. This puja provides the results equal to any pilgrimage.
Some medical practitioners believe that fasting during the month of Shravan is good for health. When the rains start pelting, sunlight is scarce and this slows down the digestive system. It is good to eat food that is very easy to digest. That is why, many Hindus follow a strict vegetarian diet during the month of Shravana. Fasting also has de-toxifying effect on the digestive system. This is a natural protection against water borne diseases that are common during this period of the year.
Savan marks the beginning of Hindu festivals including Teej, Dashain and Tihar. Besides its function as a curtain raiser, Shrawan has its own significance as the month is dedicated to lord Shiva One of the Hindu myths associated with this month focuses on the idea of marriage. It is believed that unmarried women who wear henna (mehendi) or green bangles and worship Shiva can have an ideal husband.