Question 1

Why is Shravana considered Shiva's month?

Accepted Answer

The Puranas place the churning of the ocean in Shravana. The Halahala poison that surfaced first would have destroyed creation, and Shiva drank it, holding it in his throat — which turned blue, giving him the name Neelkanth. The Devas poured Ganga water over him to cool the burning. Pouring water over the Shivalinga through Shravana repeats that act, and it is why the month's central offering is water rather than fire or food.

Question 2

Why does Sawan begin on different dates in different states?

Accepted Answer

Because of the Amanta and Purnimanta reckonings. In North India, following Purnimanta months, Shravana begins on the Full Moon of Ashadha — roughly a fortnight earlier than in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where the Amanta month begins on the New Moon. The number of Sawan Somwars in the month can therefore differ between regions in the same year. Use the toggle above to see both.

Question 3

What may be eaten during a Sawan Somwar fast?

Accepted Answer

Practice varies by family. The common form is a Phalahar — fruit, milk, and grain-free foods such as Sabudana, Singhare or Kuttu flour, Samak rice, potato and rock salt — taken once, usually after the evening puja. Some keep a Nirjala fast without water, others only avoid grains and salt. Green leafy vegetables, curd, brinjal, onion and garlic are widely given up for the whole month rather than just on Mondays, a practice that also has a monsoon-hygiene rationale.

Question 4

How long does the month of Shravana last?

Accepted Answer

A lunar month runs about 29.5 days — the time the Moon takes to return to the same phase relative to the Sun. Because that figure is not a whole number of days and the Moon's speed varies, Shravana does not begin at the same clock time each year, and its length can differ by several hours from one year to the next. The begin and end timestamps listed above are computed for your own location rather than quoted from a fixed table.

Question 5

Why do the Amanta and Purnimanta dates for Shravana differ?

Accepted Answer

They are two different conventions for where a month starts. An Amanta month runs New Moon to New Moon and is the standard across South and West India — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Gujarat. A Purnimanta month runs Full Moon to Full Moon and is standard across North India. The Purnimanta Shravana therefore begins about a fortnight earlier and its dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha) comes first, while in the Amanta reckoning the bright fortnight comes first. The two systems agree on which Tithi a given day is; they disagree only on which month to file it under. Use the toggle above to switch between them.

Question 6

Can Shravana occur twice in one year?

Accepted Answer

Yes, though rarely. Twelve lunar months fall about eleven days short of a solar year, so roughly every 32 or 33 months an extra month — Adhika Maas, also called Mala Maas or Purushottama Maas — is inserted to keep the lunar calendar aligned with the seasons. The extra month takes the name of the month that follows it, so an Adhika Shravana is followed by a Nija (true) Shravana. Rites of passage such as weddings, sacred-thread ceremonies and house-warmings are traditionally deferred out of the Adhika month, while recitation, charity and pilgrimage are held to be especially meritorious in it.

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