Shravana Somavara Vrat Katha

The Katha (Story)

Lord Shiva, in his form as Mritunjaya (conqueror of death), once granted boons to all who would worship him on Shravana Mondays.

The katha tells of a Brahmin named Madhukar who lost his only son to a sudden illness. The mother, inconsolable, went to a sage who advised her to observe the Shravana Somavara vrat. She did so with strict devotion through all 4 Mondays of Shravana — fasting from sunrise to sunset, reciting the Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, performing abhishekam on a Shivalinga.

On the final Monday, while she was performing the puja, her son returned to her — alive and well. Shiva had granted her boon — her son's life had been restored.

A second katha tells of Lord Krishna in his pre-incarnation as Vishnu, who himself worshipped Shiva during Shravana Mondays. This established the tradition that Vaishnavas also observe Shravana Somavara — recognizing Shiva and Vishnu as two aspects of the same supreme reality.

In Telugu tradition, unmarried women observe Shravana Somavara to find good husbands. Married women observe it for their husband's long life. Children of ailing parents observe it for parents' health. The vrat is universal — anyone can observe it for any righteous desire.

Puja Vidhi (Ritual Procedure)

1. Step 1: Wake before sunrise; take a bath; wear clean clothes (white preferred).
2. Step 2: Take the sankalpa stating the specific Shravana Somavara count (e.g., "this is my first/second/third/fourth Somavara of Shravana") and your intention.
3. Step 3: Visit a Shiva temple in the morning. If unable, perform home puja before a Shivalinga.
4. Step 4: Perform Abhishekam: bathe the Shivalinga with water, milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar, panchamrita.
5. Step 5: Offer bilva leaves, white flowers, akshata, dhatura, hibiscus.
6. Step 6: Light a ghee deepam.
7. Step 7: Recite Shri Rudram or the full Mahamrityunjaya Mantra 108 times.
8. Step 8: Throughout the day: complete fast — no food, no water for strict observance; some allow milk and fruits.
9. Step 9: Evening: at sunset, break the fast with milk, fruits, and a small portion of food cooked without grains.
10. Step 10: On the last Somavara of Shravana: prepare a feast for Brahmins or feed the poor.

Benefits

Shiva grants 4 specific boons through Shravana Somavara: (1) marriage for unmarried daughters, (2) long life for husbands, (3) healing for ailing family members, (4) freedom from chronic obstacles. Sustained over multiple Shravana cycles, brings spiritual liberation.

When to Perform

All 4 (or 5) Mondays of Shravana month. In 2026, Shravana begins July 10. Shravana Somavaras 2026 fall on July 13, July 20, July 27, August 3, and August 10 (5 Somavaras this year — especially auspicious).

Other Vrat Kathas

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