| Revision as of 06:40, 27 September 2014 editBanda.krishna (talk | contribs)209 edits The geographical,agricultural, economic,social, cultural and religious importance of the month Shravan← Previous edit | Revision as of 11:43, 6 October 2014 edit undoRenamed user ExPsittacine (talk | contribs)16,254 editsm clean up, replaced: Jharkand → Jharkhand, typo(s) fixed: Tamilnadu → Tamil Nadu, , , → , using AWBNext edit → | ||
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| ⚫ | {{Distinguish|Shrobon}} | ||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}} | ||
| {{Use Indian English|date=December 2013}} | {{Use Indian English|date=December 2013}} | ||
| ⚫ | {{Distinguish|Shrobon}} | ||
| '''Śrāvaṇa''' ({{lang-sa|श्रावण}}) is a ] of the ]. In ], Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Āadi ({{lang-ta|ஆடி}}) and is the fifth month of the solar year. Śrāvaṇa begins with the ]'s entry into ]. In lunar religious calendars, Śrāvaṇa begins on the new moon and is the fifth month of the year. | '''Śrāvaṇa''' ({{lang-sa|श्रावण}}) is a ] of the ]. In ], Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Āadi ({{lang-ta|ஆடி}}) and is the fifth month of the solar year. Śrāvaṇa begins with the ]'s entry into ]. In lunar religious calendars, Śrāvaṇa begins on the new moon and is the fifth month of the year. | ||
| ==Festivals== | ==Festivals== | ||
| Shravana(jupaka) is considered to be a holy month in the Hindu calendar due to the many festivals that are celebrated during this time. ], marking the birth of ], falls on the 8th day after the full moon and is celebrated with great pomp across the world, especially in the ] traditions.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ellwood|first=Robert|title=The Encyclopedia of World Religions|year=1998|publisher=Infobase Publishing|location=New York|isbn=0-8160-6141-6|pages=199}}</ref> |
Shravana(jupaka) is considered to be a holy month in the Hindu calendar due to the many festivals that are celebrated during this time. ], marking the birth of ], falls on the 8th day after the full moon and is celebrated with great pomp across the world, especially in the ] traditions.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ellwood|first=Robert|title=The Encyclopedia of World Religions|year=1998|publisher=Infobase Publishing|location=New York|isbn=0-8160-6141-6|pages=199}}</ref> | ||
| ], the festival of brothers and sisters, is celebrated on Shraavana ] (Full Moon). |
], the festival of brothers and sisters, is celebrated on Shraavana ] (Full Moon). | ||
| ===Narali Poornima=== | ===Narali Poornima=== | ||
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| ===Kajari Purnima=== | ===Kajari Purnima=== | ||
| In central parts of India such as ], ] and ] Shraavana Poornima day is celebrated as Kajari Purnima. It is an important day for the farmers and women blessed with a son. On the ninth day after Shravana Amavasya, the preparations of the Kajari festival start. This ninth day is called Kajari Navami and varied rituals are performed by women who have sons until Kajri Purnima or the full moon day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sssbalvikas.org/glory5-aug10.asp |title=Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas |publisher=Sssbalvikas.org |date= |accessdate=2013-08-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Author shubham95 |url=http://mythology.nuvvo.com/lesson/15612-raksha-bandhan |title=Raksha Bandhan - Mythology |publisher=Mythology.nuvvo.com |date= |accessdate=2013-08-25}}</ref> | In central parts of India such as ], ] and ] Shraavana Poornima day is celebrated as Kajari Purnima. It is an important day for the farmers and women blessed with a son. On the ninth day after Shravana Amavasya, the preparations of the Kajari festival start. This ninth day is called Kajari Navami and varied rituals are performed by women who have sons until Kajri Purnima or the full moon day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sssbalvikas.org/glory5-aug10.asp |title=Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas |publisher=Sssbalvikas.org |date= |accessdate=2013-08-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Author shubham95 |url=http://mythology.nuvvo.com/lesson/15612-raksha-bandhan |title=Raksha Bandhan - Mythology |publisher=Mythology.nuvvo.com |date= |accessdate=2013-08-25}}</ref> | ||
| ===Pavitropana=== | ===Pavitropana=== | ||
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| ===Shravani Mela=== | ===Shravani Mela=== | ||
| Shravani Mela is a major festival time at ] in ] with thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims bringing holy water around 100 km on foot from the ] at Sultanganj.<ref></ref> Shravan is also the time of the annual ], the annual pilgrimage of devotees of ], known as ''Kanwaria'' make to Hindu pilgrimage places of ], ] and ] in ] to fetch holy waters of ]<ref name="fr">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2117/stories/20040827000206600.htm|title=SPOTLIGHT: The long walk for worship|date=Volume 21 - Issue 17, |
Shravani Mela is a major festival time at ] in ] with thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims bringing holy water around 100 km on foot from the ] at Sultanganj.<ref></ref> Shravan is also the time of the annual ], the annual pilgrimage of devotees of ], known as ''Kanwaria'' make to Hindu pilgrimage places of ], ] and ] in ] to fetch holy waters of ]<ref name="fr">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2117/stories/20040827000206600.htm|title=SPOTLIGHT: The long walk for worship|date=Volume 21 - Issue 17, 14–27 August 2004|publisher=], (])}}</ref> | ||
| Hindu saint Sri Guru ], who advocated Sri Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy, achieved Videha Mukti on Sraavana Bahula ] in 1671 AD . | Hindu saint Sri Guru ], who advocated Sri Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy, achieved Videha Mukti on Sraavana Bahula ] in 1671 AD . | ||
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| ==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||
| Being the period when the ] hits the over heated plains of India, the season is celebrated in various texts, such as ] text, '']'' by ]. Many films too have been made with ''Sawan'' in their title, like '']'', (1969), '']'' (1970), '']'' (1979), '']'' (1979), '']'' (1980), etc. |
Being the period when the ] hits the over heated plains of India, the season is celebrated in various texts, such as ] text, '']'' by ]. Many films too have been made with ''Sawan'' in their title, like '']'', (1969), '']'' (1970), '']'' (1979), '']'' (1979), '']'' (1980), etc. | ||
| Also in ], many song are theme around, ]-] during the rainy season, plus ] songs, e.g., ''Sawan ki Ritu Aai'', ''Sawan ka Mahina Pawan kare Sor''.<ref></ref> | Also in ], many song are theme around, ]-] during the rainy season, plus ] songs, e.g., ''Sawan ki Ritu Aai'', ''Sawan ka Mahina Pawan kare Sor''.<ref></ref> | ||
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| {{Indian astronomy}} | {{Indian astronomy}} | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| ==Shravana the most important month of the Hindu calendar: | ==Shravana the most important month of the Hindu calendar: | ||
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| 5. Social and Cultural importance | 5. Social and Cultural importance | ||
| 6. Most favored topic of the Indian poets | 6. Most favored topic of the Indian poets | ||
| 7. A gate-way for the festival season of the Hindus |
7. A gate-way for the festival season of the Hindus | ||
| 1. End of Summer Season: Shravana marks the end of the scorching heat of the summer which prevailed during the previous two months with temperatures ranging from n 40 C to 45 C. People have been suffering during summer for want of drinking water. All the wells, ponds, lakes and most of the rivers were dried up, and the women-folk in most of the villages had to walk a distance of 3 K.M. or more, to fetch a pot of dirty water from shallow ditches. The animals were the worst sufferers for want of drinking water and fodder. There were no crops, no vegetables and the agricultural land was dry and broken, birds used to fall down dead due to excessive heat and for want of water. The image of a farmer sitting on the edge of his land and looking expectantly towards the sky is often shown I the T.V. In addition to the heat, hot winds blowing from the desert areas make life miserable. Everybody is eagerly waiting for the month of Shravana. | 1. End of Summer Season: Shravana marks the end of the scorching heat of the summer which prevailed during the previous two months with temperatures ranging from n 40 C to 45 C. People have been suffering during summer for want of drinking water. All the wells, ponds, lakes and most of the rivers were dried up, and the women-folk in most of the villages had to walk a distance of 3 K.M. or more, to fetch a pot of dirty water from shallow ditches. The animals were the worst sufferers for want of drinking water and fodder. There were no crops, no vegetables and the agricultural land was dry and broken, birds used to fall down dead due to excessive heat and for want of water. The image of a farmer sitting on the edge of his land and looking expectantly towards the sky is often shown I the T.V. In addition to the heat, hot winds blowing from the desert areas make life miserable. Everybody is eagerly waiting for the month of Shravana. | ||
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| 6 the most favoured topic of Indian Poets: | 6 the most favoured topic of Indian Poets: | ||
| Description of the rainy season has been the most favored topic for all the Indian poets from times immemorial. Poet Kalidasa had given a detailed account of various things that happen during the rainy days in his book ’ Ritu Samharam’. In this book Kalidasa compares the monsoon winds to a king who is arriving with a convoy of rainy clouds marching like elephants, with lightning as pennants, and the thunder as the drum beat and shooting a shower of arrows with his rain bow. etc2. According to him it is the most enjoyable month for the couples who are together. In one of the poems Kalidasa says that a couple who are sleeping in the same bed, but each at the two ends of the bed, and when the lady who is thinking about the flirting of her husband with other women, listens to the thundering of the clouds, jumps and engages her husband in thick embrace, for he is after all her man3. In another poem he talks of the woman who is desperately moving forward on her path to meet her lover, in spite of the fact that the cloud cover has rendered the whole atmosphere dark, and thundering is frightening and the path can be seen only when the lightning brightens the paths4. Poet Kalidasa gives a beautiful description of the first clouds of monsoon in his famous lyrical poem ‘ Meghadutam’. The first clouds heralding the arrival of the monsoons within a month make a Yaksha who was banished from his home crazy. He thinks of his beloved living far away in the Himalayas and tries to send a message to her through the clouds. In this connection the poet justifies the selection of a lifeless cloud as a messenger. He says that when those people who are in the thick embrace of their beloved become absent minded when they see the dark blue clouds arriving, what can you say about those who are separated from their lover ? He also says that a man who has been blinded by immense passion of love does not distinguish between the living and non-living5. Medieval Hindi poets also excelled in the description of rainy season. In their poetic style called’ barahmasa’ they described of the feelings and experiences of lovers, when they are united and also when they are separated, during the twelve months of the calendar. Malik Muhammad Jaysi in his famous epic poem ‘ Padmavat’ had exceled in describing the pangs of separation of the queen Nagmati when her husband had left her and went in search of the eternal beauty6. | Description of the rainy season has been the most favored topic for all the Indian poets from times immemorial. Poet Kalidasa had given a detailed account of various things that happen during the rainy days in his book ’ Ritu Samharam’. In this book Kalidasa compares the monsoon winds to a king who is arriving with a convoy of rainy clouds marching like elephants, with lightning as pennants, and the thunder as the drum beat and shooting a shower of arrows with his rain bow. etc2. According to him it is the most enjoyable month for the couples who are together. In one of the poems Kalidasa says that a couple who are sleeping in the same bed, but each at the two ends of the bed, and when the lady who is thinking about the flirting of her husband with other women, listens to the thundering of the clouds, jumps and engages her husband in thick embrace, for he is after all her man3. In another poem he talks of the woman who is desperately moving forward on her path to meet her lover, in spite of the fact that the cloud cover has rendered the whole atmosphere dark, and thundering is frightening and the path can be seen only when the lightning brightens the paths4. Poet Kalidasa gives a beautiful description of the first clouds of monsoon in his famous lyrical poem ‘ Meghadutam’. The first clouds heralding the arrival of the monsoons within a month make a Yaksha who was banished from his home crazy. He thinks of his beloved living far away in the Himalayas and tries to send a message to her through the clouds. In this connection the poet justifies the selection of a lifeless cloud as a messenger. He says that when those people who are in the thick embrace of their beloved become absent minded when they see the dark blue clouds arriving, what can you say about those who are separated from their lover ? He also says that a man who has been blinded by immense passion of love does not distinguish between the living and non-living5. Medieval Hindi poets also excelled in the description of rainy season. In their poetic style called’ barahmasa’ they described of the feelings and experiences of lovers, when they are united and also when they are separated, during the twelve months of the calendar. Malik Muhammad Jaysi in his famous epic poem ‘ Padmavat’ had exceled in describing the pangs of separation of the queen Nagmati when her husband had left her and went in search of the eternal beauty6. | ||
| 7. A gate way to the festival season of the Hindus: Shraavana does not only mark the beginning of agricultural. Social and cultural activities but also marks the beginning of the festival season of the Hindu calendar. All most all days of the month are ear-marked for various religious festivals. This is the sacred month of Lord Shiva who is specially worshipped on all Mondays of the month. Mon day of this month is remembered as the day during which Lord Shiva swallowed the terrible poison called ‘halahal’, which rose up during the churning of the ocean of milk. Fortunately his wife caught hold of his neck and stopped the down-flow of the poison in to his stomach7. His neck was turned blue due to the terrible heat produced by the poison. His devotees try to reduce the heat on every Monday by pouring the water of the holy river Ganga or coconut water on the Shiva Linga. Goddess Gauri or Parvati is worshipped on every Tuesday by married women. Goddess Mahalakshmi is worshipped on all Fri days. Another important festival celebrated by women, especially newly married women, is ‘Teej’ that occurs on the third day after the new moon day and also on the third day after the full moon day in this month. Teej is celebrated on three occasions under three different names in and around this month. They are called- Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej and Hartalika Teej. Hariyali Teej is celebrated on the third day after the new moon day in the monthof Shravan ( July 27,2014) |
7. A gate way to the festival season of the Hindus: Shraavana does not only mark the beginning of agricultural. Social and cultural activities but also marks the beginning of the festival season of the Hindu calendar. All most all days of the month are ear-marked for various religious festivals. This is the sacred month of Lord Shiva who is specially worshipped on all Mondays of the month. Mon day of this month is remembered as the day during which Lord Shiva swallowed the terrible poison called ‘halahal’, which rose up during the churning of the ocean of milk. Fortunately his wife caught hold of his neck and stopped the down-flow of the poison in to his stomach7. His neck was turned blue due to the terrible heat produced by the poison. His devotees try to reduce the heat on every Monday by pouring the water of the holy river Ganga or coconut water on the Shiva Linga. Goddess Gauri or Parvati is worshipped on every Tuesday by married women. Goddess Mahalakshmi is worshipped on all Fri days. Another important festival celebrated by women, especially newly married women, is ‘Teej’ that occurs on the third day after the new moon day and also on the third day after the full moon day in this month. Teej is celebrated on three occasions under three different names in and around this month. They are called- Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej and Hartalika Teej. Hariyali Teej is celebrated on the third day after the new moon day in the monthof Shravan ( July 27, 2014), Kajari Teej comes three days after the Raksha bandhan day- the full moon day which marks the end of the month of Shravan.( August 13, 2014)). It is celebrated five days before the Krishna Janmashtami (eighth day after the full moon day celebrated as the birth day of Lord Krishna). It is also called Badi Teej (Big Teej) on which day the annual temple festival of Goddess Visalakshi is celebrated in Kasi. Hartalika Teej is celebrated fifteen days after the Kajari Teej in some parts of North India, it is also called as Kajari Teej8. It falls on August 28, 2014. Married women go to their mother’s house for HariyalTeej and spend about ten days in their native place. They come back after the Raksha Bandhan festival which is a very important festival signifying the permanent relationship of a girl with her brothers. They come back to their husband’s house after tying a holy thread o the right hand wrist of their brother and celebrate Kajari Teej on the third day with their husbands9. The Raksh bandhan festival which is also called as Shravana Purnima (full moon day marking the end of the month other ) is celebrated by almost all states of India. It is called Gamha Purnima in Orissa, Jandhyala Purnima in Andhra Pradesh, Avani Avattam in Tamil Nadu, Kajari Purnima in Madhta Pradesh, Pavitrapana in Gujarat and Shravan mela in Jharkhand. Some other important festivals celebrated during this month in the year 2014 are Mangala Gauri Vratam on 29 July, Nagara Panchami on 1 August, Vara Mahalakshmi Puja on 8 August, Raksha bandhan on 10 August, Krishna Janmashtami on 17 August. Hindu festival season starts from the month Shravan and continues for another three months. | ||
| Reference | Reference | ||
| 1. Monsoon of South Asia, Misplaced Pages | 1. Monsoon of South Asia, Misplaced Pages | ||
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| 8. Hindu Festivals for the year 2014, Calendar for the year 2014. N.C.T.,India | 8. Hindu Festivals for the year 2014, Calendar for the year 2014. N.C.T.,India | ||
| 9.Art Shrines of Ancient India,V.K.Subramanian,Published byMotilal Banarasidas &co.New Delhi a. | 9.Art Shrines of Ancient India,V.K.Subramanian,Published byMotilal Banarasidas &co.New Delhi a. | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
Revision as of 11:43, 6 October 2014
Not to be confused with Shrobon.Śrāvaṇa (Template:Lang-sa) is a month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Śrāvaṇa is the fifth month of the Hindu year, beginning in late July and ending in the third week of August. In the Tamil calendar, it is known as Āadi (Template:Lang-ta) and is the fifth month of the solar year. Śrāvaṇa begins with the Sun's entry into Leo. In lunar religious calendars, Śrāvaṇa begins on the new moon and is the fifth month of the year.
Festivals
Shravana(jupaka) is considered to be a holy month in the Hindu calendar due to the many festivals that are celebrated during this time. Krishna Janmashtami, marking the birth of Krishna, falls on the 8th day after the full moon and is celebrated with great pomp across the world, especially in the Vaishnava traditions.
Raksha Bandhan, the festival of brothers and sisters, is celebrated on Shraavana Poornima (Full Moon).
Narali Poornima
In western India and parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa Shraavana Poornima (full moon) day is celebrated as Narali Purnima. On this day, an offering of a coconut (naral in Marathi) is made to the sea, as a mark of respect to Lord Varuna, the God of the Sea. In the coastal regions of Maharashtra i.e. Konkan, a coconut is offered to the sea for calming it down after the monsoon season. Narali Purnima marks the beginning of the fishing season and the fishermen, who depend on the sea for a living, make an offering to Lord Varuna so that they can reap bountiful fish from the sea. Fishermen start fishing in the sea after this ceremony.
Nag Panchami
Nag Panchami is also celebrated in many parts of India on the fifth day after Amavasya of Shraavana month. The snake god Nāga is worshiped. The last day of the Shraavana is celebrated as Pola, where the bull is worshiped by farmers from Maharashtra.
Aadi Amavasaya
In Tamil Nadu (& also in Kerala) Aadi Amavasaya is celebrated with great importance in all temples. It is an equivalent to Mahalaya Amavasaya of north India.
Basava Panchami
In Karnataka Basava Panchami (Kannada: ಬಸವ ಪಂಚಮಿ) is celebrated on 5th day after amavasya.In 1196 AD this day Lingayat dharma guru Basava merged with god.
Avani Avittam
In southern and central parts of India including Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Odisha, Shraavana Poornima day is when the Brahmin community performs the rituals of Avani Avittam or Upakarma.
Shri Baladeva birthday
Shraavana Poornima day is also celebrated as Shri Baladeva birth Ceremony. Lord Krishna's elder Brother Prabhu Balarama was born on this Poornima.
Gamha Purnima
Gamha Purnima is celebrated in Odisha. On this date, all the domesticated Cows and Bullocks are decorated and worshipped. Various kinds of country-made cakes called Pitha and sweets mitha are made and distributed within families, relatives and friends. In Oriya Jagannath culture, the lord Krishna & Radha enjoy the rainy season of Shravana starting from Shukla Pakhya Ekadashi (usually 4 days before Purnima) and ending on Rakhi Purnima with a festival called Jhulan Yatra. Idols of Radha-Krishna are beautifully decorated on a swing called Jhulan, hence the name Jhulan Yatra.
Kajari Purnima
In central parts of India such as Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand Shraavana Poornima day is celebrated as Kajari Purnima. It is an important day for the farmers and women blessed with a son. On the ninth day after Shravana Amavasya, the preparations of the Kajari festival start. This ninth day is called Kajari Navami and varied rituals are performed by women who have sons until Kajri Purnima or the full moon day.
Pavitropana
In parts of Gujarat, Shraavana Poornima day is celebrated as Pavitropana. On this holiday, people perform the grand pooja or the worship of Lord Shiva. It is the culmination of the prayers done throughout the year.
Pavitra Ekadashi
On Ekadashi Day , Vaishnavas in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan celebrate it as the birth of Pushtimarga, the path of grace. On this day, Lord Krishna appeared in front of Shri Vallabhacharya. Shri Vallabhacharya offered him a thread (soothan), which was pious (pavitra). Since that day every year, Pavitra Ekadashi is celebrated. Such threads are offered from Ekadashi till Raksha Bandhan.
Jandhyam Poornima
Jandhyam is Sanskrit for sacred thread, and Poornima denotes the full moon in Sanskrit. Jandhyala Purnima is observed on the full moon day (Poornima) in the month of Shraavan in Andhra Pradesh. Brahmins perform the sacred thread changing ceremony on this day and it is also known as Yajurveda Nutanasahitha Upakarma.
Shravani Mela
Shravani Mela is a major festival time at Deoghar in Jharkhand with thousands of saffron-clad pilgrims bringing holy water around 100 km on foot from the Ganges at Sultanganj. Shravan is also the time of the annual Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage of devotees of Shiva, known as Kanwaria make to Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges River
Hindu saint Sri Guru Raghavendra Swami, who advocated Sri Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy, achieved Videha Mukti on Sraavana Bahula Dwitiya in 1671 AD .
| Shukla Paksha | Krishna Paksha |
|---|---|
| 1. Prathama | 1. Prathama |
| 2. Dwitiya | 2. Dwitiya |
| 3. Tritiya | 3. Tritiya |
| 4. Chaturthi | 4. Chaturthi |
| 5. Panchami | 5. Panchami |
| 6. Shashti | 6. Shashti |
| 7. Saptami | 7. Saptami |
| 8. Ashtami | 8. Ashtami |
| 9. Navami | 9. Navami |
| 10.Dashami | 10.Dashami |
| 11.Ekadashi | 11.Ekadashi |
| 12.Dwadashi | 12.Dwadashi |
| 13.Thrayodashi | 13.Thrayodashi |
| 14.Chaturdashi | 14.Chaturdashi |
| 15.Pournima | 15. Amavasya |
In popular culture
Being the period when the Monsoon hits the over heated plains of India, the season is celebrated in various texts, such as Sanskrit text, Meghaduta by Kalidasa. Many films too have been made with Sawan in their title, like Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, (1969), Sawan Bhadon (1970), Solva Sawan (1979), Sawan Ko Aane Do (1979), Pyaasa Sawan (1980), etc.
Also in Hindustani classical music, many song are theme around, Radha-Krishna during the rainy season, plus Bollywood songs, e.g., Sawan ki Ritu Aai, Sawan ka Mahina Pawan kare Sor.
During Shraavana the Hindu Community in the regions of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka practice Vegetarian Diet. This is because in the Monsoon season it is difficult to get sea food at this time of the year and it is thought that most fish spawn during this period and abstaining from fishing in Shraavana will lead to increased fish throughout the year.
See also
References
- Ellwood, Robert (1998). The Encyclopedia of World Religions. New York: Infobase Publishing. p. 199. ISBN 0-8160-6141-6.
- http://www.maharashtratourism.net/festivals/narali-poornima.html
- "Narali Poornima/ Coconut Festival". Magicalmumbai.com. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- Maharashtra State Gazetteers: Kolhapur District (Volume 1). Directorate of Govt. Print., Stationery and Publications, Maharashtra State. 1976. p. 280.
- "Balaram Jayanti". Iskconbangalore.org. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "Balaram Jayanti 2010". Iskconbangalore.org. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- http://www.orissa.gov.in/portal/LIWPL/event_archive/Events_Archives/89RakshaBandhan_GamhaPurnima.pdf
- "Lord Jagannath: Festivals - Gamha Purnima,Festival of lord jagannath, Jagannath Puri, Jagannath Temple". orissa.oriyaonline.com. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "Sri Sathya Sai Bal Vikas". Sssbalvikas.org. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- Author shubham95. "Raksha Bandhan - Mythology". Mythology.nuvvo.com. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - "Pavitropana,Pavitropana Festival". Raksha-bandhan.com. 21 August 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- John Marshall / Jaya Tirtha Charan Dasa. "PAvitropAna - PutradA EkAdasi". Salagram.net. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "Pavitra Ekadashi 2011 – Pavitropana Ekadasi ~ Hindu Blog". Hindu-blog.com. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "Pavitropana Ekadasi". Archive.is. 20 December 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- "Pavitra Ekadashi Vrat - How To Observe Pavitropana Ekadashi Vrat, Story Of Pavitra Ekadashi Fasting". Festivals.iloveindia.com. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- Jandhyala Purnima
- "I Love Hyderabad". Web.archive.org. 10 October 2007. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
- Fasts and festivals of India by Manish Verma, page 41
- "SPOTLIGHT: The long walk for worship". Frontline (magazine), (The Hindu). Volume 21 - Issue 17, 14–27 August 2004.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - Saawan songs
| Months of the Hindu calendar | |
|---|---|
| Lunar | |
| Solar | |
| Months of the Nepali calendar | |
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==Shravana the most important month of the Hindu calendar:
ShrAvana which is generally called as ’saawan’ in North India is the fifth month of the Hindu calendar. It begins from the first day after the full moon day in the month of July and lasts till the next full moon day. For example in the year 2014 it extends from 13 July to 11 August in North India. But in South India and some other states it begins from the first day after the New moon day and ends on the next new moon day. (27 July to 24 August.). Thus the difference between the two calendars is 15 days. As such the first 15 days of Shravan in North India come under the second half of the previous month Aashadha in South India. The month of Shravana is very important for the entire sub-continent of India as it is connected to the arrival of the South-West monsoons. Hence it is considered as the life giver to the sub-continent. Its importance can be explained under the following heads. 1. It marks the end of Summer season 2. It brings the life giving South-west monsoon rains 3. Brings new life to the entire nature 4. Agricultural and industrial development 5. Social and Cultural importance 6. Most favored topic of the Indian poets 7. A gate-way for the festival season of the Hindus
1. End of Summer Season: Shravana marks the end of the scorching heat of the summer which prevailed during the previous two months with temperatures ranging from n 40 C to 45 C. People have been suffering during summer for want of drinking water. All the wells, ponds, lakes and most of the rivers were dried up, and the women-folk in most of the villages had to walk a distance of 3 K.M. or more, to fetch a pot of dirty water from shallow ditches. The animals were the worst sufferers for want of drinking water and fodder. There were no crops, no vegetables and the agricultural land was dry and broken, birds used to fall down dead due to excessive heat and for want of water. The image of a farmer sitting on the edge of his land and looking expectantly towards the sky is often shown I the T.V. In addition to the heat, hot winds blowing from the desert areas make life miserable. Everybody is eagerly waiting for the month of Shravana.
2. Shravana brings the life-giving South-West Monsoon rains : : The South –West monsoon winds full of water vapour dash against the Western Ghats of South India around first June and cover the entire Sub-continent by 15 July. After giving enough and sometimes less or more in certain areas they spread over the Himalayan Valleys and retrace their journey as North West monsoon from 20 October. These winds are most unpredictable. But when once they arrive they transform the entire atmosphere. The dark blue monsoon clouds accompanied by thunder and lightning are welcomed by people belonging to all regions with singing, dancing and playing of various musical instruments. Copious rains from these clouds turn the dreary desert like landscape into lusty green grass lands. Now the wells, ponds, lakes and rivers are swelling with water, giving enough time to the women-folk for other activities 3. Brings new life to the entire Nature: This month brings new life not only to human beings but also to the animals, birds and fish in the lakes and ponds. Thousands of frogs flock around the banks of lakes and make “tur-tur” noise attracting the attention of the female frogs and informing them that the mating season has arrived. Same is the case with the peacocks which dance merrily under the cloudy sky exhibiting their plumage of colourful feathers with great pride and attracting the attention of the pea-hens. It is the mating season for not only the birds and animals but also different types of fish in water. People in the coastal areas do not go out for fishing during the month because it is the time of mating for the fish and they expect that if they refrain from fishing there will be plenty of fish afterwards.
4. Agricultural and industrial development: Mother India dwells in her lakhs of villages. The livelihood of 60% of the villagers is agriculture. But half of the agricultural lands in India depend on the monsoons. If there are good rains then there will be plenty of food production. The farmers start sowing their fields after the first rain fall. Plenty of water leads to flooding of various rivers leading to generation of hydro-electricity. This leads to growth in industrial activity. Thus Shravan can be termed as the decider of the fortune and well being of India.I
5. Social and cultural importance: Shravana is the month during which the newly married couples are separated from each other. This happens during the previous month Aashadha in South India during which month it is said that a son in law is not expected to see the face of the mother in law. The brides are sent home to their mother’s house for a period of at least 20 days during this month. (The scientific reason behind this forced separation may be due to the fact that if a brides conceives during this period, she would be delivering a child in midsummer which is a very inconvenient period for her parents, where she goes to deliver her first baby). All the newly married women come home to their parents. They proudly display their new dresses and jewellery presented to them by their in laws. They meet their mother, father, brothers and sisters. It is the time when they wear colourful dresses and the jewellery which was gifted to them. They run happily in the streets of the village to meet their old friends who were recently married and have come back to their native village. It is the time for singing and dancing and exchanging their experiences in the house of their in laws. It is the time for feasts, for enjoying the delicious dishes prepared by their mothers and more over it is the time for arranging swings under the branches of big trees and swinging up to the sky like fairies. It is also the time when poets become crazy after seeing the black clouds and write poems of love and rain. The musicians bring out their musical instruments and sing in praise of the rain-god or Mother Nature. Cultural and literary associations become very busy and start organizing various programs. 6 the most favoured topic of Indian Poets: Description of the rainy season has been the most favored topic for all the Indian poets from times immemorial. Poet Kalidasa had given a detailed account of various things that happen during the rainy days in his book ’ Ritu Samharam’. In this book Kalidasa compares the monsoon winds to a king who is arriving with a convoy of rainy clouds marching like elephants, with lightning as pennants, and the thunder as the drum beat and shooting a shower of arrows with his rain bow. etc2. According to him it is the most enjoyable month for the couples who are together. In one of the poems Kalidasa says that a couple who are sleeping in the same bed, but each at the two ends of the bed, and when the lady who is thinking about the flirting of her husband with other women, listens to the thundering of the clouds, jumps and engages her husband in thick embrace, for he is after all her man3. In another poem he talks of the woman who is desperately moving forward on her path to meet her lover, in spite of the fact that the cloud cover has rendered the whole atmosphere dark, and thundering is frightening and the path can be seen only when the lightning brightens the paths4. Poet Kalidasa gives a beautiful description of the first clouds of monsoon in his famous lyrical poem ‘ Meghadutam’. The first clouds heralding the arrival of the monsoons within a month make a Yaksha who was banished from his home crazy. He thinks of his beloved living far away in the Himalayas and tries to send a message to her through the clouds. In this connection the poet justifies the selection of a lifeless cloud as a messenger. He says that when those people who are in the thick embrace of their beloved become absent minded when they see the dark blue clouds arriving, what can you say about those who are separated from their lover ? He also says that a man who has been blinded by immense passion of love does not distinguish between the living and non-living5. Medieval Hindi poets also excelled in the description of rainy season. In their poetic style called’ barahmasa’ they described of the feelings and experiences of lovers, when they are united and also when they are separated, during the twelve months of the calendar. Malik Muhammad Jaysi in his famous epic poem ‘ Padmavat’ had exceled in describing the pangs of separation of the queen Nagmati when her husband had left her and went in search of the eternal beauty6. 7. A gate way to the festival season of the Hindus: Shraavana does not only mark the beginning of agricultural. Social and cultural activities but also marks the beginning of the festival season of the Hindu calendar. All most all days of the month are ear-marked for various religious festivals. This is the sacred month of Lord Shiva who is specially worshipped on all Mondays of the month. Mon day of this month is remembered as the day during which Lord Shiva swallowed the terrible poison called ‘halahal’, which rose up during the churning of the ocean of milk. Fortunately his wife caught hold of his neck and stopped the down-flow of the poison in to his stomach7. His neck was turned blue due to the terrible heat produced by the poison. His devotees try to reduce the heat on every Monday by pouring the water of the holy river Ganga or coconut water on the Shiva Linga. Goddess Gauri or Parvati is worshipped on every Tuesday by married women. Goddess Mahalakshmi is worshipped on all Fri days. Another important festival celebrated by women, especially newly married women, is ‘Teej’ that occurs on the third day after the new moon day and also on the third day after the full moon day in this month. Teej is celebrated on three occasions under three different names in and around this month. They are called- Hariyali Teej, Kajari Teej and Hartalika Teej. Hariyali Teej is celebrated on the third day after the new moon day in the monthof Shravan ( July 27, 2014), Kajari Teej comes three days after the Raksha bandhan day- the full moon day which marks the end of the month of Shravan.( August 13, 2014)). It is celebrated five days before the Krishna Janmashtami (eighth day after the full moon day celebrated as the birth day of Lord Krishna). It is also called Badi Teej (Big Teej) on which day the annual temple festival of Goddess Visalakshi is celebrated in Kasi. Hartalika Teej is celebrated fifteen days after the Kajari Teej in some parts of North India, it is also called as Kajari Teej8. It falls on August 28, 2014. Married women go to their mother’s house for HariyalTeej and spend about ten days in their native place. They come back after the Raksha Bandhan festival which is a very important festival signifying the permanent relationship of a girl with her brothers. They come back to their husband’s house after tying a holy thread o the right hand wrist of their brother and celebrate Kajari Teej on the third day with their husbands9. The Raksh bandhan festival which is also called as Shravana Purnima (full moon day marking the end of the month other ) is celebrated by almost all states of India. It is called Gamha Purnima in Orissa, Jandhyala Purnima in Andhra Pradesh, Avani Avattam in Tamil Nadu, Kajari Purnima in Madhta Pradesh, Pavitrapana in Gujarat and Shravan mela in Jharkhand. Some other important festivals celebrated during this month in the year 2014 are Mangala Gauri Vratam on 29 July, Nagara Panchami on 1 August, Vara Mahalakshmi Puja on 8 August, Raksha bandhan on 10 August, Krishna Janmashtami on 17 August. Hindu festival season starts from the month Shravan and continues for another three months. Reference 1. Monsoon of South Asia, Misplaced Pages
2. Stanza No.I, VirshaRitu, RituSamharam,Kalidasa 3. Ibid, Stanza No.11 4. Ibid, Stanza No.10 5. Stanza No 5, Meghadootam, Kalidasa,www.Sanskritbooks.org. 6 www.kavitakosh.org/kk/Nagmati Viyog Khand (Hindi). 7. www.rudraksha-ratna.com/shravan-month 8. Hindu Festivals for the year 2014, Calendar for the year 2014. N.C.T.,India 9.Art Shrines of Ancient India,V.K.Subramanian,Published byMotilal Banarasidas &co.New Delhi a.Category: