Kathmandu, July 22
On the first Monday of the month of Shrawan, a large number of devotees gathered at the Pashupatinath Temple and other Shiva temples across Nepal.
During the month of Shrawan, devotees observe fasts every Monday and offer milk and water at Shiva temples. According to Basudev Krishna Shastri, a member of the Nepal Panchang Decision Development Committee and an expert in religious texts, it is believed that this practice fulfils one’s desires.
Mondays in Shrawan are considered highly auspicious. This year, there are four Mondays in Shrawan. On each Monday, men and women observe fasts and worship Shiva.
Shastri explains, “The word ‘fast’ signifies a benevolent feeling. It is a traditional form of worship aimed at achieving a certain objective. Fasting positively impacts our life, health, spiritual progress, and peace of mind.”
Devotees dressed in green, yellow, and red can be seen at Pashupati in Kathmandu, Doleshwar in Bhaktapur, Kumbheshwar in Lalitpur, Devghat in Chitwan, and Halesi in Khotang.
There is also a significant number of Bolbam pilgrims wearing saffron attire. These pilgrims walk from Sundarijal in Kathmandu, carrying pure water to offer at Pashupati.
Monday is considered the day of Shiva because the moon resides on Shiva’s head, and according to astrological beliefs, Monday is the moon’s day. Shastri further explains the importance of Mondays in Shrawan, stating that the sun enters the sign of Cancer, which is ruled by the moon, during this month. This astrological alignment has established the tradition of worshipping during Shrawan.
Shastri also mentions that offering water to the Shiva lingam is believed to pacify energy. “Wherever a Shiva lingam is established, a significant amount of energy accumulates. If this energy is not pacified, it could cause disaster on Earth. Therefore, milk, water, and Panchamrit are offered,” he says.
The tradition of offering water to Shiva
The tradition of offering water to Shiva is also linked to religious stories. During the churning of the ocean by gods and demons, 14 jewels emerged, including Laxmi, Mani, Parijat, and Dhanvantari.
During this process, the Kalakut poison emerged before the Amrit (elixir). To prevent the poison from destroying creation, Shiva drank it. The poison caused a burning sensation in his body, and water was poured over him to provide coolness. This is said to be the origin of the tradition of offering water to Shiva.
Here are the photographs:
