Monday ,Somvar Vrat

Monday is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is said that Lord Shiva is easily pleased. Therefore many people observe Upvaas on Monday.

Those devotees observing fast only eat food once.People visit Lord Shiva shrines and conduct pujas, especially, Ardhanarishwara puja. The mantra �Om Namah Shivaya� is chanted continuously.Siva devotees also read Shiva Purana.Unmarried women observe the Vrat to get good husbands. Others observe it for a happy and prosperous family life.

Upvass, or fasting, on Mondays begins at sunrise and ends at sunset. On the day, food is only eaten after evening prayer.Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped on the day. Of course, no worship begins without Praying Lord Ganesha.The fasting on Mondays in the Shravan month is considered even more auspicious.

Things To Do :

• Lord Shiva devotees visit temple in morning or in the evening
• White color dress is worn by those observing the fast
• White coloured flowers are offered to god
• A single meal is taken on the day after midday
• Devotees will read stories relating to somvar vrat
• Devotees also offer Bilva Leaves 
• The fast ends on the next day morning after prayers and rituals

When Amavasi, or no moon day, falls on Monday it is considered highly auspicious and the day is known as Somavati Amavas.Mondays in Shravan month (July � August) in North India, Gujarat and Maharashtra is considered highly auspicious. Special pujas are offered to Lord Shiva on Mondays in temples and homes.

Mondays are auspicious in Kartik month (October � November) in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.Mondays in Karthigai Masam (November � December is also auspicious in Tamil Nadu.

Story :

Once there lived a wealthy merchant in a city. He always had immense wealth and prosperity. But despite all the worldly possessions, he remained sad because he had no son. He regularly observed Monday fast to have a son. He used to go to the Shiva temple and worshipped Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati with full faith. Goddess Parvati was pleased at his devotion. She implored Lord Shiva and said, �My Lord, this wealthy merchant is your faithful devotee. He regularly observes Monday fast but still he has no son. Please fulfill his desire�. Hearing the imploring of Parvati, Lord Shiva said, �Let your desire be fulfilled. I grant him a boon. He will be the father of a son, but�� �But what my Lord?� asked Parvati. Lord Shiva said, �but he will live for twelve years only". Fortunately, this wealthy merchant could hear their conversation. As time passed on, the merchant�s wife gave birth to a beautiful son. He celebrated his son�s birth with great pomp and show and distributed food, clothes and money amongst the poor. All prayed for his son�s long and happy life. But the merchant was still sad because he knew that his son would not live beyond twelve years.

Merachant observed Monday fast with greater zest and there was no let up in the worship of Lord Shiva. He practiced all the rites of worship. At the age of eleven, the merchant�s son looked quite smart and mature. All desired that he should be married to a beautiful girl. The merchant�s wife also wanted her son to be married. Merchant did not agree for marriage,he sent his son with his Maternal uncle to attain spiritual knowledge.The merchant�s son started his journey for Kashi with his maternal uncle. They arranged devotional gatherings and distributed clothes at every halting camp. They also arranged best eats for the Brahmans and made enough offerings to them.One day they made a halt at the capital of a king.The king�s daughter�s marriage was held for that day. The marriage party had already reached the city. The bridegroom�s party was terribly disturbed because the bridegroom was blind, of one eye. They were in search of a beautiful boy to replace him. The bridegroom�s father sent his men in search of a beautiful boy. The men spotted the merchant�s son who was camping in an inn with his maternal uncle. The bridegroom�s father was a rich person. He said to the merchant�s maternal uncle, �My prestige is at stake. I need a handsome bridegroom in place of my one-eyed son. I shall give enough wealth if your ward agrees to have a temporary marriage with the king�s daughter. He shall be free immediately after the marriage ceremony is over�. The merchant�s brother-in-law convinced his sister�s son for a temporary marriage. The bride�s party praised their luck when they saw a handsome bridegroom with the marching band at the head of the marriage procession. The merchant�s son and the king�s daughter were finally married off around the holy fire.

At the time of departure, the merchant�s son picked his bride�s scarf and wrote, �Now we are husband and wife. I am not the son of a king. I am the son of a rich merchant. I was on way to Kashiji for spiritual studies. Your real bridegroom is blind of one eye�. The bride noticed her bridegroom writing something on the scarf. She could not read his message at that time. When the marriage party was about to depart, the bride read the message. She was shocked to know the reality. She refused to accompany with the one-eyed bridegroom. The marriage party returned without a bride. The merchant�s son reached Kashiji and devoted himself fully to the spiritual studies. His maternal uncle arranged devotional gatherings and gave donations everyday for the well-being of his sister�s son. On the last day of the twelfth year, the merchant�s son felt pain in the chest. His maternal uncle was performing the religious rites as per his routine. As he went inside the room, he found the boy dead. He was full of grief, but kept silent as the Brahmans would not accept food from such a house. With courage, he completed his routine. When his routine was over, he started crying. Many people gathered around him and shared his grief. Fortunately, Lord Shiva and Parvati were also passing by that house. When Parvati heard the cries and beating of breast, her motherly compassion got aroused. She was a mother, after all.



Having known the facts, she said to Lord Shiva, �My dear Sir, please ask Yama to return his life. Yama is always at your command. Please do this favor to me. You are the protector of all creatures�. Lord Shiva agreed and sprinkled Ganga water on the dead body. The boy got up as if he was making an excuse for sleep. The spiritual education of the merchant�s son was over. They started their journey homeward. They arranged spiritual discourses and distributed aims among the needy throughout their way. Now, they were back in the city where this boy was married. The king recognized the boy immediately. The boy reached home and merchant and his wife was very happy by seeing the couple.

Ravi Vaar or Sunday Fast

In Hinduism, each day of a week is dedicated to a particular god,Apart from the special Vratas and Upvaas, many Hindus also fast on a particular day in a week.

Sunday : 

Ravivar, or Sunday, is dedicated to Lord Surya or Suryanarayana. Upvaas or fasting on the day is dedicated to the Sun God. Red is the color of the day.Those people who undertake fast on the day only eat food once that too before sunset. Salt, oil and fried food items are avoided.

Red color sandalwood paste is applied as tilak on forehead.Extra care is given on cleanliness of the body and surrounding.It is believed that Ravivar Vrat will help in fulfilling desires.People with skin diseases observe the Vrat to get relief.

 Things to do :

• Wake up Before Sunrise
• Take a fresh  Bath and wear New Clothes
• Take your meal and Fruit, only while Sun is in the sky.
• If you have taken Fast, and if Sun does not come in the sky, do not take any Meal or Fruit and take that next day when Sun comes up in the sky.
•  Do not take Salt and Oily food in your meal.

Story :

Once there was an old lady. She would get up early in the morning and take her bath. She kept her house dean by plastering it with cow dung, and took her meals only after offering food to the Sun God. She lived a happy life. This lady used to collect cow dung from her neighbor�s house. The neighbor�s wife was jealous of her. She tethered her cow inside the room so that the old lady could not collect the dung. And as she could not plaster her house with cow-dung, she did not cook her food.

She did not even offer food to the idols. She remained on fast throughout the day and slept with empty stomach. The Sun God appeared before her in her dream. He sold, �Why did not you take your meals? Why did you not offer food to the Idols?� The old lady said politely, �My neighbor�s lady did not allow me to collect cow dung from her house. I could not clean my house. I have no cow of my own�. The Sun God said, �I am happy with you because you kept fast on Sunday. I am pleased with your worship. I shall give you a beautiful cow�. The god disappeared. The old lady opened her eyes.

A beautiful cow, with a calf, was standing in her courtyard. She was surprised to see them. She arranged hay and water for them. When the neighbor�s lady saw the cow in the old lady�s house, she became jealous of her. She also noticed that the cow�s dung was of gold and not any ordinary dung. She took the gold dung and replaced it with the ordinary dung of her cow. She continued the replacing practice for a couple of days. The Sun God noted that the old lady was being cheated by her neighbor. He caused a storm at sunset. The old lady tethered her cow inside her room for its safety.

She was, however, surprised to see that her cow gave her gold dung instead of an ordinary one. She could see through her neighbors trick. The neighbor�s lady was constantly jealous. She thought of a plan to deprive her of the wonder cow. She went to the king and said, �My Lord, a poor old lady in our neighborhood has a divine cow. The cow gives gold dung. It would be befitting for your graciousness if this cow is with you. She keeps it inside her room. No one can have even its glimpse�. The king was a greedy person. He told his courtier, �Go immediately and bring the cow�.

The old lady was about to offer food to the Sun God�s idol when the courtier reached her house. He untied the rope from peg and took away the cow. The lady prayed and wept, but all in vain. The old lady missed her meals that day. She prayed to her God for the safe return of the cow. She could not sleep at night. The king on the other hand, was highly pleased to have that divine cow. That night, he had a dream. The Sun God was there who said, �I offered this cow to the old lady as a token of my affection for her worship of me. You do not deserve this cow�.

The king woke up. He was badly shaken. He saw that the entire palace was full of cow dung. There was bad smell all around. In the morning, the king sent for the old lady with due honor. He returned the cow to the old lady and also gave her some wealth. The neighbor�s lady was suitably punished which was a cause of relief to all. The king proclaimed order that all his subjects should observe fast on Sundays if they wanted their desires to be fulfilled.