Significance of the Month of Shraavan: Fasting and Beyond

Why do people give up consumption of non-veg food and alcohol during this month? Further, why do many people fast in this month?

The right questions to ask is ‘what really is to be done in this month?’

1. This month is called Shravan maas (month) because the full moon (Purnima) occurs against the Shraavana star (nakshatra). It is the fifth month of the Bhaartiya lunar calendar. Read on to understand the multi-faceted significance of this Indian month…
2. The most important part: Shraavan is connected to Shravan. Shravan means ‘to listen’ in Sanskrit. It is the first step in integrating knowledge into our lives. We listen deeply (Shravan), then we bring to our memory repeatedly (manan) and then the knowledge becomes integrated as a wealth into our life (nidhidhyasan). In other words, Shraavan is designed by our rishis to be a month of listening and learning.
3. This month is thus a time to listen to spiritual teacher, to our elders, listen to wisdom, to be in knowledge. Parvati Ma did puja to Shivji during this month. She underwent tapas in order to attain Shiva. This implies that the month is the time to go inward and meet the Shiva tattva (Shiva principle means our highest vibration) within us.
4. Parvati is a manifestation of Shakti. Shakti means strength, power and energy. Shakti is the womb for all creation and is therefore expressed as the mother aspect of the Divine. Shakti is the seed for all dynamism, radiance, beauty, equanimity, peace and nourishment in the universe. Shakti is the sustaining life-force.
5. In our sacred Ved, Shraavan month is described as ‘Nabhas’. Shraavan Purnima (the full moon day in Shraavan masam) coincides with with the Nakshatra (birth star) of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu, Shraavan nakshatra: This is one reason why Shraavan month is considered as important, significant and auspicious.
6. But one more reason is Shivji – The churning of ocean, viz “Samudra Manthan” between Dev and Danav  took place in the month of Shraavan. Fourteen different types of treasures/ outputs emerged. Whilst all the objects were distributed amongst the Dev and Danavs, Halahal (poison) was had by Shivji and held it in his throat, assisted by Pravati ma. Hence the name Neelkanth (blue throat) is attributed to Shivji. Amrut is the nectar of prosperity for all creatures. Samudra Manthan is an allegory for self-discovery (and more).
7. Shraavn maas is highly fruitful for “good deeds” and thus the opportunity is created by way of numerous festive celebrations. According to Puran, performing Grihpravesh in this month is very significant and greatly regarded. Lord Jagannath, Sri Krishna, who was born in Shraavanan maas, is worshipped and honored by the world. Not only Sri Krishna, but Lord Hayagriva, who was born on Shravan Poornima, and Vaikhanasa Aagama Pravaktha, Vaikhanas Maharshi are also greatly worshipped.
8. Purnima (full moon day) in this month (Shravan Pournami) is significant and important. Shraavan Purnima is celebrated as Jandhyala Pournami. On this day, dwijas (who can observe Upanayana sanskaar) perform Upakarma (thread ceremony and start of study of Shaastr). Ved described that this Upakarma helps them in maintaining their spiritual, psychological and physical health. Shraavan Purnima is also celebrated as Raksha bandhan -Rakhi festival is a great tradition of healthy relationship between brother and sister. Another celebration is of Narali purnima in Maharashtra – the worship of the sacred coconut tree (and resumption of fishing season)
9. To reduce the strong effect of poison during Shraavan maas, two coolants were used: Lord Shiva wore the crescent moon on his head, and gangajal was the second. All the Devs started offering the Ganges water to Lord Shiva to reduce the effect of poison. Ever since, this event took place in the month of Shraavan: all devotees offer the Ganges water to Lord Shiv especially during this month.
10. Most of the practical value of Shraavan stems from the fact that it’s a month of heavy rains – no great auspiciousness than monsoon for an agriculture economy! Because it is difficult for the fishing community to venture into the waters in the heaviest rainy season as also the time that fish lay eggs, so if left to themselves in this season, there is no consumption of sea food. Further monsoon itself is not the time for digestion of heavy food, hence the abstinence from non-vegetarian food and maintenance of a saatvic
11. Since it is the rainy season, everyone spends a lot of time indoors. It’s Nature’s way of telling us not to venture outside now. Our ancestors used to set up their daily routines and timetables in accordance with nature. This was called Rit – being in sync with nature. This, and the auspiciousness, led to many festivals such as Nag paanchami also occurring during this period.
12. Fast is also meant to keep both the body and the mind in balance by preventing over-indulgence of the sense organs. During Shraavan Maas, people keep fasts on Mondays and these are called Shraavan Somvaar.