Savan
Every question on the site tagged Savan, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
Computed for New Delhi. Sunrise decides which tithi a day belongs to, so these can differ elsewhere.
The monsoon lunar month sacred to Lord Shiva, marked by fasting and daily worship, including the Kanwar Yatra.
129 notes from our sourcesNotes from our sources
Sign of divine grace: passing unaffected through a tantric akhara ground
The speaker says the first sign that a deity's Kripa is on you is this: go into a tantric akhara ground at its time — Ram Navami, Shivratri, the month of Savan, Ambubachi — where energies are being projected on one another as a show of power, and where sadhaks and ordinary people alike start "playing", crying, shouting or falling ill. If a divine shakti is with you, you cross that ground steady and untouched, not a hair pulled, even if you have never had any direct darshan. He gives his own experience: four companions in a region he calls a second Mayong were hit with tantra and reduced to dysentery and IV drips within two or three hours, while he, then very young and doing only ordinary service of Jagadamba, did not so much as sneeze. He says the shakti protects her child completely.
Which sadhana should be performed during Shravana?
Choose one of Shiva Panchakshari, Mahamrityunjaya, or the new Shiva Mala Mantra Sadhana; practitioners already committed to Neelakantha Aghorashtra should continue that instead, uninterrupted, for at least 5 years.
What is the Sadhana for Yaksharaja Kubera's grace during Shravana?
Daily, from the first day of Shravana to Raksha Bandhan, recite the 111 names of Yaksharaja Kubera Samputita within the Panchakshari mantra: 27 Malas of Panchakshari, then 27 recitations of the 111 names, then 27 more Malas of Panchakshari.
Thirteen betel rolls to Kuber and five to Shiva, with the prayer kept to legitimate wealth
Offer 13 betel-leaf rolls to Kubera and 5 to Shiva, pray for legitimate wealth rather than acting on any dreams of buried treasure, then store the ritual items permanently in a wooden, sandalwood, or silver box and repeat the practice each Shravana.
Best months for a Panchakshari purashcharan
The speaker says that if the Purashcharana of the Panchakshari is done in the month of Savan, of Bhadrapad or of Magh, the mantra awakens very swiftly and Shiva's special grace is received; the Shiv Mahapuran describes that an anushthan in Bhadrapad too brings benefit and swift accomplishment. It can be done in any other month as well — there is no prohibition at all — but he is discussing Shravan, taking it as a month of 30 days.
Structure of a one-month Panchakshari purashcharan: five lakh target, daily malas and a daily sankalp
The speaker says to keep the target of the purashcharan at a minimum of five lakh, which he counts as 5,000 Malas. With even three hours set aside, the japa is done comfortably in two to two and a half hours: at least 166 malas a day — call it 171 — over 30 days gives 5,130 malas, completing the five lakh and one full Purashcharana, which in Shravan bears the very best fruit. If 171 is not possible do 100, or even 50, but at least 1,250 malas in the month — a sava lakh — must be done, and do not dwell on the lower number. He also asks that the Sankalpa be taken every day, not once for the whole month — he has nothing against a single vow if you prefer — so that if it breaks for some reason there is no distress: the target stays five lakh, but sankalp and samarpan are done daily.
Three hours a day for the thirty days of Shravan: a golden period, especially in a tirtha
The speaker says that giving three of the day's twenty-four hours to this sadhana for the thirty days of Shravan destroys the sins of many births. For people living in Kashi, in Ujjain (Avantikapuri) or in any tirtha kshetra, this is a golden period that can liberate them. People elsewhere receive Shiva's special grace when they do the sadhana — parents love the children who live far away even more; those who are near have the full opportunity to please their parents, and whether they use it is up to them, but when the distant ones remember him, Shiva is all the more pleased.
Shravan Purnima havan that closes the Panchakshari purashcharan
The speaker says a Havan must certainly be done on Shravan Purnima, with the same mantra plus Swaha — those who say Shivaya first say Shivaya, Namah, Swaha; those entitled to say Namah first say Namah, Shivaya, Swaha. Give at least five malas of Ahuti, and as many more as you can — 10, 11, 21 or 27 malas. For samidha use navagraha wood or cow-dung cakes; never use mango wood; dry Bilva wood is best of all. Offer the ahuti with a mix of nourishing samagri, listed on the channel, and men in particular offer ghee mixed with Guggul. If husband and wife do this purashcharan anushthan together, he says, heaven itself is laid at their feet by Shiva and Jagdamba — it is a divine time, take its benefit.
What did Sati offer in Ashadh and Shravan?
On the Ashadh Shukla Chaturdashi, with black cloth and with the flowers of bhatkaiya. In Shravan the Krishna Saptami and Krishna Ashtami and the Shukla Saptami and Shukla Ashtami — the speaker notes that Shravan Saptami is specially observed in many places for kuldevi pujan — and then on the Shravan Shukla Ashtami and the Chaturdashi she performed the pujan of Shiva with the yajnopavit and pure cloth.
In which months is such placating done?
Shravan, Ashadh, and third comes Sharad, the speaker says. It will not be done in Kartik — in Kartik the matter of placating is not able to occur. All these times are put to good use, and in all these times these things run in this manner.
Shri Samba Shivaya anushthan outside Mahashivratri: start days and minimum count
The speaker says that outside Mahashivratri one may take the sankalp from the monthly Shivratri, which falls in Krishna Paksha between Trayodashi and Chaturdashi (ask a pandit for the date), or at any auspicious time in the month of Shravan, or from a Monday or Friday with a good muhurta, and proceed in exactly the same way. The number of days and daily count are one's own choice — five days at 100 or 11 malas, a sankalp of 51,000, 21,000 or 27,000 — but the first anushthan must be at least 27,000, one thousand for each of the 27 nakshatras, and no havan is needed. Taken from one Shivratri to the next, a full month at 108, 100 or 27 malas daily by capacity, is very excellent.
What is done with the second bhojpatra of the mantra?
One of them he put into a silver casing and wore around his neck — with full bhav, the speaker says, and the matter is finished there.
How much japa should be done daily through the sixty-day Savan?
Every day, as strength allows, take hold of 108 malas — resolve that 108 malas are to be done. If there is no mala, then fine: we will do three hours. If it cannot be at one time, then an hour and a half in the morning and an hour and a half in the evening.
Is there a timing restriction on japa in Savan?
In Savan there is no difficulty of time at all — do it in the morning, at midday, in the evening, at night, in the middle of the night, at dawn, whenever time is found. Having become pure, light two lamps before Bhagwan Shiva.
What should one do who still wishes for a physical guru?
If there is any wish for a bhautik guru in your mind, the speaker says, then make good use of the sixty days and see: a hundred percent Bhagwan Shiva will give his kripa and will bring out the right path for you. But if you have to be trapped, if you want an excuse, then the world is full of excuses.
From the day Savan starts, the first work is something done not for oneself alone.
Savan is beginning from 4 July, and Purushottam maas is going to set in from 18 July. From the day Savan starts, the speaker says — as he also said at midday — the first work is that we have to do something not for ourselves alone but on behalf of our family too.
That one person should arrange things so the remaining family members can take part.
If in the whole family God has given even one person the sadbuddhi to do seva-puja, or by Jagadamba's kripa there is one such person in the house, then it is they who should make a little arrangement so that the remaining members of the family also have their kalyan this year.
Should Shiva be worshipped only on the Savan Mondays?
Those who are going to do Shiv ji's pujan only Monday to Monday — there are eight Mondays, they will worship on all eight and not on the remaining days — he asks: where is this, that we will trouble Shiv ji only from Monday to Monday? The Savan Monday has great importance, but that does not mean this.
What is the minimum for the other days of Savan?
Do not drop it altogether, the speaker says — that we will only keep the fast of the Savan Monday and on the remaining days will not even go to ask after Shiv ji. This should not be. So do his abhishek on the remaining days too.
When is kuldevi and kuldevata pujan done in Shravan?
In the month of Shravan the pujan of the kuldevi and kuldevata is done especially, on the day of Saptami and on the day of Ashtami. In some places it happens in the Krishna Paksha, in some places in the Shukla Paksha.
Should a jaladhari be left dripping on the Shivling for twenty-four hours?
Some people hang a lota over Bhagwan Shiva for twenty-four hours and give a jaladhari, but sitting there all day is not possible. If you are making such an arrangement at home for the whole month of Savan, then either arrange that the supply of water continues all twenty-four hours; or else keep the arrangement only for as long as you are doing the puja and abhishek and are present.
When should Savan be started in regions that count from Amavasya?
Asked by a listener in Gujarat, where Shravan is counted from Amavasya, when they should start, the speaker says yes, this is an issue — you people count differently by Purnimant and Amavasyant. Start from whenever you people hold it to be.
Can one parthiva Shivling be worshipped through the whole of Savan?
No, brother, the speaker answers: according to the rule of the parthiva Shivling, the visarjan will have to be done every single day. You cannot do pujan of one and the same Shivling for a long time, through the whole of Savan. Make it daily, immerse it daily. This same description is found in the Ghushmeshwar katha.
For how long should the home rudrabhishek run?
Do the rudrabhishek of the Shivling at home for the whole, whole month, the speaker says. Do it for all sixty days.
Can the Shiv Raksha Stotra be worn round the neck like a kavach?
Absolutely it can be, the speaker answers. Whoever is doing the path of the Shiv Raksha Stotra may, on any day in this Savan — on a Monday, on Purnima, on Amavasya — write it on bhojpatra with a pen made of bel wood and with ink of ashtagandha or of kesar ground in Gangajal, write the whole kavach, then do the path 108 times, do the havan and so on, and only then put it into a silver casing and wear it.
Can the whole of Shravan be observed through the Shiv Manas Puja?
If the situation is such that we cannot do the physical puja — suppose that for some reason one had to go somewhere in the middle of Savan, or there is some such matter — then you can absolutely do the manas puja, the speaker answers, and from that too you will obtain the fruit.
Can a Laghu Rudri of sixteen mantras be done daily instead of the full vidhi?
A listener says he has learnt the Rudri path by vidhi but doing it daily by the full vidhi takes a great deal of time, and asks whether he may do abhishek daily with the Laghu Rudri of sixteen mantras. Yes, absolutely you can, the speaker answers. And the Shiv Manas Puja may absolutely be used for pujan daily in Shravan.
Go daily to a Shiv temple, or to the Shivling at home, and do the abhishek.
Along with that, do one small thing every day in the month of Shravan, the speaker says. As told at the beginning of today's video about how Shiv ji's abhishek is to be done — go to a Shiv temple, or if there is a Shivling at home, then mixing camphor, roli, water and the rest, do the abhishek of Bhagwan Shiva with fragrant water.
Can the Shiv Sahasranama path be done in Shravan?
Absolutely it can be done, the speaker answers — that can be done at any time at all.
Can a Laghu Rudra puja be done with the pauranik texts only on Savan Mondays?
Asked whether a Laghu Rudra puja may be done with the puranokta rudrabhishek stotra and the puranokta Purusha Sukta, and whether it may be done only on the Savan Mondays, the speaker answers: yes, it can be done.
How should one learn the parthiva Shivling vidhi properly?
See, Sameer ji, the vidhi of the parthiva Shivling is better if done by proper vidhi-vidhan, the speaker says — how the pran pratishtha happens in them, then how the abhishek is done, by which mantras the vajra and the rest is established. Call some brahmin and learn it once.
Shravan stands completed with many siddhis awakened in it, and Hal Shashthi has passed, at which gurus give the vidhis that come by upadesh alone.
Because the month of Shravan stands completed, and a great many people awaken their siddhis in it; and because Hal Shashthi has gone by, at which gurus give their disciples — especially those who are to be seated on the gaddi — the vidhis that come by upadesh alone.
Should water be sprinkled on all the devi-devatas?
No — the speaker says you are not to sprinkle water upon all the devatas and devi-devatas. He says he is saying this with particular reference to the rules of Shravan and the like; for simple ordinary people who do it by deva vidhan, the matter should be according to their own way, as they do it.
What should be done for the pitrs on the Shravan Amavasya?
The speaker says many subjects concerning the pitrs are already present on the channel. If one wishes to do something particularly on the Shravan Amavasya, then the pitrs are certainly pleased by the pujan of Bhagwan Shiva. Do rudrabhishek with milk. Do the "satachan" of Bhagwan. And if you wish to do it separately and in an extensive form for the pitrs, then do panchbali.
What does "Kul Shakti" cover, and when is it worshipped?
Not the Kuldevi alone but every power present in the lineage. Some tithi in Shravan has always been set aside in every Sanatani household for the worship of its family powers — most often the Goddess's principal Yoginis, who stand as Kuldevi alongside Mahadeva.
Why do all powers gather around Shiva during Shravan?
Because in Shravan every kind of power — Mahashakti, Upashakti, deities, sub-deities, and even Bhoot, Pret and Pishach — takes its place near Bhagavan Shiva and spends the month in his service, as an extended form of the single night of service that is Mahashivratri.
Why do knowledgeable practitioners advise against Griha Bandhan during Shravan?
Because a binding takes hold of some power, and if that power is present in Shiva's service at the time, its own order is broken by being drawn away. It is not forbidden outright — the counsel is to keep the movement of powers to a minimum this month.
Complete the Siddhi within Shravan and perform the application in Bhadrapada
Shravan Purnima is fine, as is the following month of Bhadrapada, which carries a power of its own. The clean division is to complete the Siddhi of a mantra or Kavach during Shravan and perform the application — protection, Griha Bandhan or anything else — in Bhadrapada.
A power seated in the lineage is worshipped as a family deity whatever form it arrived in
In the month of Shravan every kind of power is worshipped — a Yogini, a Dakini, or a power seated in your house in the form of a Bhoot or Pret. Once it stands as your Kul Devta and is addressed as Baba, the speaker says, it will not remain a Bhoot or Pret for you; in the lineage its worship will happen.
Which day should Kuldevi worship be performed on?
If you know your family's own tithi for it, that is best — use it. If you do not, perform the worship of your Kul Shakti on the Saptami of the Shukla Paksha of Shravan, in whichever year you are watching this.
Coconut Bali goes by a man's hand, lemon Bali is unrestricted, and Chhag Bali is not done at home in Shravan
One coconut Bali for the Kuldevi and one for the Kul Bhairav, offered by a man where possible — a pregnant woman in particular should not, and women generally should not break the coconut. Lemon Bali is entirely permitted; Chhag Bali should not be done at home in Shravan.
Should Muhurta, Rahu Kaal and Nakshatra be checked for this worship?
His own view — stated as Bhava, not scripture — is not to look at tithi, Nakshatra, Muhurta, Rahu Kaal or Ketu Kaal during Shravan, and simply to do it. Those who prefer principle over person should check the Muhurta; the essential thing is that it gets done.
What if a household already worships its Kuldevi on a different tithi?
Keep your own. If your household has always performed the Kuldevi worship on Purnima, perform it on Purnima and do an ordinary worship on Saptami. Those who know their tithi use it; those who do not, all use Saptami — which is why it is called Kuldevi Saptami.
Does the festival worship of a month displace your own sadhana?
No — both run. Through Savan the daily Abhishek of Shiva is compulsory, done in the morning; then after resting the limbs for ten or fifteen minutes you sit again on your asana and do your own ten mala or your Anushthan, morning, evening or night as suits.
The Kavach is accomplished before anything else — 1100 japa and its havan — and only then the Bhagavati mantras one is entitled to.
The Kavach. The speaker calls it the most necessary thing — accomplish the Kavach first. In the worked example, 1100 japa of the Kavach, then its Havan procedure learnt; only then the Bhagavati mantras the practitioner is entitled to, or the Stuti, Stotra, Sahasranama and Satnama.
The Shravan vidhan is aimed at every trouble alike — physical, spiritual or daivik, any disease, grief or dosha
The subject he begins from is that whatever kind of trouble there may be in your life — whether physical, spiritual or daivik, any kind of suffering, any disease or grief, any dosha — this is what the Shravan vidhan is directed at.
What is the central Shravan vidhan for a household under attack?
If some kind of upheaval is running in your house, or some abhichaar is upon you that is not being destroyed while you do sadhana, then this time go daily to the temple of Bhagwan Shiva from the first day of Shravan up to Shravan Purnima and perform Rudrabhishek. You need not know how to do the full vidhi vidhan with mantra recitation and the Ashtadhyayi path — that is no difficulty.
What garland should be offered to Shiva through Shravan?
If you can get a garland of neel Aparajita daily in Savan — a garland of the blue Aparajita flower — you should certainly put that garland on Bhagwan Shiva. If you are financially able to take two garlands, or if there is an Aparajita creeper near you, make the garland yourself and offer it: one garland for Bhagwan Shiva and one for Ma Parvati, through the whole of Shravan.
Why is japa in a Shiva temple during Savan so much more fruitful?
In the month of Savan all shaktis dwell in the Shiv Kshetra — any mahashakti, any upashakti, any kind of upadevata all dwell near the shivling, near Mahashiva, in the nearest part of his precinct, and all of them perform his seva and puja. That is why it is said in the mahatmya of Savan that japa of any mantra tantra, or the purashcharan of any mantra, done in the Shiv Kshetra in Savan gives infinite times the fruit compared with other months, and siddhi comes most swiftly.
Must a householder do Shiva's abhishek in Shravan even if he worships another deity?
You may worship any mahashakti — if you were doing japa of Bhagwan Datta's ekakshari, do that; if you were doing an anushthan of Bhairav ji, do that. But along with it Bhagwan Shiva's abhishek must certainly happen. If a householder does not perform Bhagwan Shiva's abhishek in the month of Savan, the speaker says, there is no more unfortunate creature in the whole world.
The protective Shiva prayogas of the whole year, such as the Shiv Raksha stotra prayoga, can be completed within Savan
Many prayogas relating to Shiva ji are given on the channel — such as the Shiv Raksha prayoga, a prayoga of the Shiv Raksha stotra to be done by going near the shivling when the trouble is very great. If you cannot find the time through the whole year to perform those prayogas for protection, then perform that prayoga without fail in the month of Savan.
Those who have already done five or eleven thousand japa should do 108 daily near the Shiva temple through Savan
If you have already done 5,000 or 11,000 japa, then in the month of Savan kindle lamps and the like in his name near the Shiva temple and do that japa with your wish — whatever your wish is: you were doing it for protection, for the destruction of enemies, for victory in some place. Go on doing 108 daily through the whole of Savan, at whatever time — morning, evening or night — your presence there can be arranged.
Should a decorative shivling in the house be worshipped in Savan?
In the month of Savan, no object of the shape of a shivling in the house should be unworshipped. By any object he means that if you have placed a decorative item that is a shivling and do not worship it, then at the very least show it dhoop and deep. Mahashivratri and Savan have great mahatmya and must never be allowed to go to waste.
Placating them beforehand through Shiva ji's pujan obtains their grace in good time, ahead of the Naag Panchami and Shravan Saptami pujan
The pujan of Naag Panchami, Shravan Saptami and so on will come, he says, and special pujan must certainly be given in those. But if before that these are placated by doing the pujan of Shiva ji, then their grace too is obtained in good time, if some work is going wrong.
When should the Rudragan sadhana be done?
Do the sadhana of the Rudraganas in the Shiva temple on the very first day; and if you do it on all the days, that is most excellent.
Can Hanuman ji be given abhishek in Shravan?
Asked whether, since Hanuman ji is a Rudra avatar, his abhishek may be done in the month of Shravan, the speaker says no doubt should be kept about it at all: you may absolutely do Hanuman ji's abhishek, puja, shringar and everything, and the offering of chola and the rest. But keep one thing in mind — along with it, the abhishek and pujan of Shiva ji must certainly happen. Never bypass Shiva ji in the month of Shravan; do not replace him with anyone.
Whose puja comes first in a parva kaal?
The truth is, he says, that in a parva kaal we should always worship our own chief aradhya, whom we have served lifelong; and along with it, the one whose time it is, whose parva kaal it is, should also be worshipped. Shiva-Shakti is a mahashakti whose puja cannot be bypassed: in the month of Shravan their pujan will be chiefly done, and the pujan of one's aradhya that runs alongside will run too — but they are not to be bypassed.
When should a kavach that has been ordered be worn?
Asked when the kavach he has had sent is to be worn, the speaker says: wear it at any time in the month of Shravan. Gupt Navratri is running now, so wear it at any time in that. Wear it on the Purnima — there is time and to spare.
What can be done if there is a yoga of an accident in the kundali?
It cannot be said straight out, the speaker says, but if there is such a subject, then a video was uploaded during the month of Shravan for the sake of Bhagavan Mahamrityunjay. Watch and listen to that video; the pdf of the Mahamrityunjay is in it, download it and do that anushthan. A wife too can do it for her husband.
Who claims that karmakand should be avoided as pakhand?
To say merely that it is not possible in today's time — why, brother, he asks; you are not doing it. He estimates that about 95% of those who always listen to this channel have been doing their nitya-niyam seva-puja, that they will have completed several great anushthans, that they will certainly have done lakhs of japa in Kumbh, and that lakhs of japa are bound to happen for everyone in Sawan. How are they able to do it? Do they not do nam-japa? Everyone is doing it. But it is being put into your mind that do nam-japa and do not do all this, do not fall into the entanglement of karmakand, this is pakhand, this and that. By speaking that way you are, in some measure, corrupted — and the fruit obtained is likewise.
The session settles which sadhana is to be taken up in Shravan
The speaker says the live is especially important because it deals with matters directly connected to the sadhana of Shravan. People do many kinds of sadhana, of whichever devatas attract them, but it is a truth everyone knows, he says, that without the kripa of Bhagavan Sadashiva completeness is not attained. So the question before us is which sadhana to do at this present time.
A compiled Shravan sadhana PDF, updated for present circumstances
A PDF he had put on the channel before, which lacked some things. Given the situation and circumstances everyone is presently in, the foremost thing that stands before us is durbhagya — meaning any kind of kasht or vipatti. For those who are in saubhagya and in comfort, he says, this is a golden period in which to complete these sadhanas properly.
One compilation covering the guru mantra, Ganpati and the whole sequence, shared in the group and description
It will be put in the group and later uploaded in the video description. He asks listeners to download and keep it, saying it will be of use lifelong. Everything has been compiled in it, because giving only the mool sadhana raises the question of which guru mantra to read and what to do for Ganpati ji; so a complete general subject that every sadhak can and should do has been collected there.
When does this Shravan anushthan begin and end?
The sadhana is to be begun from the Pratipada of Shravan. On the Poornima of Shravan you will perform the havan. The whole vidhi vidhan is in the same PDF, which is why he has brought the PDF itself onto the live.
What clothing is prescribed, and how strictly?
Keep the vastra either yellow or white — every person, woman or man. If you genuinely want benefit, or want to see a real change in your life and to come out of whatever distress you are in, then do not compromise and look for alternatives, he says: not in the asana, not in the vastra, not in the place.
Which asana may be used, and must the cloth be unstitched?
The asana may be of Kusha Asana, of blanket, or of wool; yellow or white will serve. The vastra should be yellow or white and unstitched. Observe at least this much of the shastrokta vidhi, he says, so that the devata too is compelled to give his effect. Do not leave yourself the excuse that the fruit did not come because you had not done it this way.
Which direction and place should be chosen for the anushthan?
Of direction, any one of east, north or west may be kept, leaving out only the south. If there is a pujan place in the house it is excellent and you may do it there. If you can do it in a Shiva temple through the whole of Sawan, that will be many times more beneficial.
What clothing does he recommend for girls and women?
For kanyas, the fitting vastra is unstitched cloth; if possible, doing it wearing a saree is most excellent. The rest is up to their wish. To the objection that some will insist on wearing short clothes, he answers that unstitched cloth simply means wrapping fully, right up to the top, and he does not see what there is to feel shame about in performing sadhana in full dress.
Which time details are pronounced in the sankalpa?
Pronounce the residence, village, town and mohalla. For the current month take Shravan maas; pronounce whether it is Shukla Paksha or Krishna Paksha — the paksha will change twice, once Krishna and once Shukla. See the tithi each day and say it — if it is Pratipada, then Pratipada. For the day, if it is Monday say Chandravar, or say Bhaumvar or Mangalvar, whichever vaar it is. For kaal, whether it is pratah kaal or sandhya kaal.
What does the whole month of that practice amount to?
In the whole month at least 600 recitations of Mahamrityunjay will be done, and approximately three lakh japa. Sava lakh japa is counted as one ordinary Purashcharana; you did three lakh, which means two purashcharans. So two purashcharans of Panchakshari and a good, substantial purashcharan of Mahamrityunjay will be accomplished in the month of Sawan.
What if one cannot manage those numbers?
If you cannot do so much, do less according to your convenience, he says — that is fine. He is not saying only this much must be done. But if you accomplish the Mahamrityunjay Stotra in this way, in the month of Shravan and in such numbers, it becomes an invaluable wealth of your life. Once it is done in Sawan, this thing is awakened for the whole of life; afterwards only prayoga remains to be done.
What is the minimum and the better Panchakshari count for Shravan?
In Shravan certainly do at least sava lakh, which is 1250 mala; and if you want to do it well, take it up to five lakh. As for the rest — the Shiv Mala Mantra, the Mahamrityunjay Stotra, the Mahamrityunjay Stotra Satnamavali — choose any one of them to perform the anushthan of. Having performed the anushthan of any one of the three, keep it: it is going to be of use in many places in life.
What should be done in Shravan if there is great distress in the house?
Besides this there is one more subject, he says: if there is some very distressing matter in the house, then what else to do in Shravan. The first work will be the Rudrabhishek of Bhagavan Shiva — certainly perform the abhishek. A Rudrabhishek is also being done by his own Grihastha Tantra family, with full details in the description; but the second subject is how to do it oneself at home. Have it done anywhere or do not, he says, but do it yourself without fail.
Does a sponsored rudrabhishek elsewhere suffice?
Whether your Rudrabhishek is being done in Kashi in Shravan, or in Ujjaini, or on Kailash itself — if you are not performing the Rudrabhishek of Bhagavan Shiva at home with your own hand, if his abhishek is not happening in Shravan, then nothing is going to be obtained, he says. If you do not perform the abhishek because of some special circumstance, some disease, some such event, that is a separate matter; but if out of laziness, negligence and frivolity you are not doing Shiva's pujan in Shravan, then there is no man more unfortunate than you.
What is the third practice for Shravan after abhishek and japa?
The next most prominent thing to do in Shravan, he says, is Deepdaan. So far there is the abhishek of Shiva ji; second, the japa of Panchakshari; third, the japa of the Shiv Mala Mantra, or of the Mahamrityunjay Stotra, or of the Mahamrityunjay Stotra Satnamavali. That is one subject; deepdaan is the next.
On which days of Shravan must deepdaan be done?
On the Mondays of Shravan — there are four Mondays this time — certainly do deepdaan on all four. Certainly do deepdaan on the Panchami, on both Panchamis, in the Krishna Paksha as well as the Shukla Paksha. After that, certainly do it on the masik Shivratri that will come, on the Trayodashi day. Certainly do it on the Amavasya day, and certainly do it on the Poornima day. These are the special tithis on which you should do it without fail.
Can deepdaan be done on every day of Shravan?
If it is possible — if there is financial capability, if there is no laziness or negligence in the body, and there is the wish to do the seva of Bhagavan Shiva — then if possible do deepdaan at a Shiva temple in the evening every day of Shravan, for the full 30 days, and then see its divine effect. Japa and tapa morning and evening, and the whole vidhi vidhan, is very good.
Is a dashansh havan compulsory for Panchakshari japa?
Keep in mind, he says, that if you are not doing the japa because a dashansh Havan has to be done, then in Panchakshari japa there is no compulsoriness of havan. If you do it, it is gold with fragrance; if you do not, nobody will throttle you, and it is not that the effect of the mantra will not come to you. And doing japa of Bhagavan Shiva in Shravan is in itself most distinctive — so do the japa without anxiety and give up laziness.
It is meant for old practitioners with the time, who will not disrupt their life for it
The next purashcharan, if someone does 251 in the morning — those are old people, formidable people who have been doing it from before, he says. If you have the wish to do it, and if there is time; not by abandoning and disordering your life, but for those who have the time. If you did it, then in this one Sawan fifteen lakh japa is done.
When is the rudrabhishek to be done, and what about aarti?
The Rudrabhishek is necessary at the morning time, he says; certainly do the aarti at both times, morning and evening. The aarti has also been given in this same PDF.
What does the Shravan mahatmya say about even a little practice?
And suppose someone was going to do only 21 and 21 mala and could not even do that. However many days he does it, he says — in the mahatmya of Shravan there are many, many such matters. Read these subjects in the Shiv Puran, he says, which are furnished with shastra pramana; in the mahatmya of Shravan in the Mahapuranas, one has been carried across even by taking the name once or twice. Something at least will be of use.
When should one begin, and what about packet milk?
Be ready, he says: from the day after Guru Poornima you have to get to work. There should be no shortfall in the puja of Bhagavan Shiva. And if you do not have milk available — that milk to offer is not obtainable in Shravan and only packet milk is there — then do not offer packet milk. However much useless talk anyone may speak, that no, offer only packet milk, do not offer it.
What if raw milk cannot be arranged in Sawan?
If the arrangement of raw milk cannot be made in Sawan, he repeats, the alternative has been told: do it with gandhodak.
What about regions where Sawan starts later, and boundary deities?
Maharashtra's Sawan is still fifteen days away, he notes; the day after tomorrow Ashadh Krishna Paksha will begin. To a listener's note that the devatas situated on the boundary of the village, the field and the town are offered a bhog of various dishes, he says: absolutely — accept it according to your own region.
What about regions where Shravan begins fifteen days later?
Wherever in Maharashtra and Gujarat Shravan is going to begin after fifteen days, you can do it later, he says. And if you have the wish to do it from now — a month and a half, as you are saying — then absolutely say so; take the enjoyment of it, take the full advantage of it.
When those lakh-purashcharans happen, his own name comes up in the accounting in Shiva's loka
Ten will be such lions as will do purashcharans of lakhs in Sawan, he says. And when those purashcharans of lakhs happen, one day there will be an accounting in the loka of Shiva ji as to how they did it. Then his name too will come up — yes, it was that Grihastha Tantra one. So through them his own welfare will also come about, and he is looking to his own case. You people carry on with your laziness and negligence, he says; there is no difficulty.
What will the day of completion feel like?
But when, on the day of Raksha Bandhan, your anushthan is completed — and if you did the havan along with it; and if you did not do the havan, that is all right too, there is no difficulty — but if you also did the havan, then on that day it will seem to you, he says, that a very great work of life has been done.
The basic sadhanas — Guru, Ganpati, Batuk Bhairav, Panchakshari — complete within a year at one a month
A year. Within a year you can comfortably complete the basic sadhanas — Guru, Ganpati, Batuk Bhairav, Panchakshari — a month at a time: the Panchakshari in Shravan, some sadhana in Chaitra Navratri, Batuk Bhairav in Margashirsha, Ganpati in Magh, looking at what falls where.
Continuing the guru mala japa into Shravan, and what the first charan gives
The speaker says that from the day after Guru Purnima, when Shravan (Savan) begins, it is one's own wish: one may go on doing one Mala of this japa every single day, keeping the mala worn around the neck. This is the first charan of the sadhana. Whoever does it, he says, will have less trouble in whatever other sadhana they do afterwards, will be guided rightly, and will get help and strength to complete the sadhana they wish to do; and their Punya and Tapo-bala will grow so that they may obtain a direct, physical guru in this material world.
Is it necessary to offer milk on Shiva in Savan?
Taking up Savan, the speaker says there are a thousand questions about milk — is it necessary to offer milk, will Shiva not be pleased without it? The first point is: if you have the capability, perform the abhishek of Shiva with cow's milk. If you do not have the capability, do not do it; there is no difficulty at all, perform the abhishek with water.
Why is jalabhishek necessary in Savan?
Jalabhishek is necessary, the speaker says, because it is described in the puranas that this was the very time when Bhagavan Maharudra, Mahashiva, drank the poison, and because of its heat such fire arose in his body that in order to keep him cool, to make him cool, abhishek was performed through the whole of the Shravan month by various devatas and by Bhagavati, by which his poison was quieted, his body came into a saumya form, and he could do the welfare of creation.
Why should milk be offered to Shiva rather than consumed?
A very good reason has been given, the speaker says: in the three months of Ashadh, Shravan and Bhadon, the cows and all such animals whose milk you drink graze on grass, and because of the rains in these months poisonous plants also grow, from eating which the milk of all these creatures becomes poisonous, becomes toxic, and gives a wrong effect on the body. This is why in these three months you are also forbidden to eat all foodstuffs made from milk — curd is not to be eaten, other things made from milk are not to be consumed in this period.
Which Jyotirlinga should a householder worship in Savan?
Repeating a sadhana he taught in last year's Shravan, the speaker says there are twelve Jyotirlingas, and of those twelve you should perform worship in the name of whichever Jyotirlinga kshetra falls nearest to your home. For example, if you are in the Gujarat region, the temple of Somnath Mahadev is in Saurashtra; Somnath is taken as the first Jyotirlinga, so perform abhishek at home in his name.
What if one does not want to count japa on a mala?
If you do not wish to do japa with a mala, the speaker says, simply do one hour of japa each day through the whole of the Shravan month, from Pratipada right up to the day of Rakshabandhan. And if possible, do it from Guru Purnima to the day of Shravan Purnima.
What should those who want special siddhis do in Savan?
Apart from this, for those who want special kinds of siddhis, whose wish lies in some dev kripa, in siddhi, the speaker says he will try to explain the full vidhi vidhan separately if he gets time. In brief: there are twelve Jyotirlingas, and you should perform twelve thousand japa of each Jyotirlinga's name through the whole Shravan month. It gives wondrous benefit, he says — you cannot imagine how much benefit it gives.
What should people living in a teerth kshetra do, and what about the Shiv Mahapuran?
Besides this, the speaker says, those who live in a teerth kshetra should do the sadhana and puja of whatever form of Mahadev is at that place, according to that place. And the paath of the Shiv Mahapuran, if you recite the entire Shiv Mahapuran in the Shravan month, gives wondrous benefit.
What should be recited if the whole Shiv Mahapuran cannot be done?
If you cannot do the whole paath, the speaker says, he will ask you to recite two samhitas. First, recite the Rudra Samhita — whether you do one parayan or two. What it means is: in the Krishna Paksha recite the whole Rudra Samhita once, then in the Shukla Paksha too recite the whole Rudra Samhita once. If you cannot do that, you may recite the Kailash Samhita instead; a complete paath of one of these two samhitas once in each paksha should be done.
Can the Bajrang Baan be sidhed in Savan?
Asked whether a vidhan may be performed in Savan to sidh the Bajrang Baan, the speaker says it absolutely may. Along with it, certainly do a small Shiva pujan as well: at the very least perform abhishek while reciting the twelve names of Shiva ji, the names of the twelve Jyotirlingas. Do this much alongside without fail, and after that sidh the Bajrang Baan.
Which stotras give Shiva's special grace, and in what order?
Asked which stotra paths bring the special grace of Bhagavan Shiva and in what order, the speaker says that in the month of Shravan he considers it best that you first take the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotra, the short one — Saurashtre Somnatham cha Shrishaile Mallikarjunam Ujjainyam Mahakalam Omkaramamaleshwaram — and that this entire paath should be recited a hundred and eight times every day.
What can a beginner do in Savan for the obtaining of a guru?
Asked by a listener new to tantra what may be done in Savan for the obtaining of a guru and when to begin, the speaker says: beginning from Guru Purnima and continuing to the Purnima of Shravan, recite a hundred and eight paths of the Dwadash Jyotirlinga Stotra of Bhagavan Sadashiva every day, with that very sankalp, if that is your wish.
Can grace come from a shakti other than the one being worshipped?
Asked whether it can happen that we worship one deity while the grace and blessing come from some other shakti, the speaker says he explained this whole subject in a video from three or four days back, and asks the listener to hear it once. Asked whether the Panchakshari mantra or the guru mantra gives better fruit in Shravan, he says: do the one in which your shraddha lies — that is the one that gives the best fruit. Shravan is dear to all the devas, because it is the month of the Mahadev of devas, so all bestow grace.
What balances the japa of a devi mantra?
That you do mantra japa is excellent, the speaker tells her. Whosever mantra you are doing japa of — if, for instance, you are doing Durga ji's — then the japa of a Shiva mantra should be done alongside, by which balance comes. Asked what to do if no benefit is obtained from sadhana, he says that when benefit is not being obtained from the puja and sadhana of Shiva ji, the Dwadash Jyotirlinga anushthan that has been described should especially be done in the Shravan month.
May a rhino-horn bangle given by someone be worn, and how much Rudrashtak in Shravan?
A listener says the rhino-horn item was presented to him by a Girish ji, who gave it only to be worn. Then wear it, the speaker says; there is no difficulty, and since he gave it, take directions from him. Asked how much Rudrashtak should be recited in Shravan, he says: do eight paths each day, or do nine paths.
What is the fifteen-minute puja for the destruction of kaam?
If such distress is happening to you a great deal, the speaker says, then first of all, in the month of Shravan, beginning from Guru Purnima and continuing up to the Purnima of Shravan, offer daily at least seven lotas of water upon Bhagavan Sadashiva from a brass lota — do it from a brass lota, he says, since he does not know who the questioner is — while reciting the Dwadash Ling Stotra, and after that do the shringar of Sadashiva with bhasma.
What should be offered to Bhagavan Shiva in the daily puja?
He answers that for Bhagavan Shiva, in the nitya puja, his jalabhishek and shringar are the most necessary. Abhishek is dear to him, so abhishek should be done daily. Beyond that, whatever you are able to offer, along with bilva patra.
Abhishek of the shivling with honey, in a small quantity, is the simple Shravan remedy
Since Shravan is running, he gives one ordinary subject again: perform abhishek of Bhagavan Shiva's shivling, and especially do his abhishek with honey. Let it be with only a little honey, not so much that a whole bottle is needed, 250 grams daily — let the abhishek be of just one spoon, but let it happen.
108 unbroken rice grains coloured with chandan or kesar, and five bilva patra, follow the abhishek
He says: after performing the abhishek again with water and so on, take 108 unbroken rice grains and colour those grains well with the chandan or kesar that is available. If the archan will be with bilva patra then it is very good; but if bilva patra is not available in that quantity, at least offer five bilva patra to Shiva ji.
How many malas of the Panchakshari should be done in Sawan?
A listener writes that she does five malas daily. He says that from tomorrow Sawan is starting, and there will be no joy in five malas — that is what she does every day anyway. Now what is to be done is that in Sawan at least 41 malas should be done daily; only then will your sava lakh be completed across the whole of Sawan.
A more special observance is being prepared for Ganapati and Shiva on the Monday Chaturthi
He says that for the Chaturthi and Monday falling together this time there will be a somewhat more special preparation from his side for Bhagavan Ganpati ji and Bhagavan Shiva ji, because after that only one more Monday will be obtained.
What does the Trigun aarti show about the three devatas?
Since Shravan is running and you will be doing aarti daily, he points to the Trigun Swami ji ki aarti — jo koi nar gaave, Brahma Vishnu Sadashiv, the three assuming one form. No aarti of a trigun form exists in any panth or sampradaya, he says, but right now in Shravan every Shiva bhakta is performing it. So the three are one, between the separate pranava letters — the three are one. Capacity is within all of them, but they have made a boundary: this belongs to him, such a planning has been made, this leela is to be done by his hands.
A month of Shravani Panchakshari runs on of itself into the Bhadrapada japa
Suppose, he says, you have done a month's japa of the Shravani Panchakshari. Now in the month of Bhadrapada you are doing japa of Bhagavati's mantra or Ganpati ji's mantra. If even a little state of tandra forms, then since the practice here has been of the Panchakshari, you will not even know when the Panchakshari begins to run. So this is normal, he says; do not be troubled by it.
The brahmins' Shravani upakarma on Purnima has a far larger counterpart for tantra-agama initiates
He points to those who perform the Shravani upakarma properly, which will now happen on Purnima — on Shravani Purnima the brahmins will go and do all of it. What is that subject? According to the Vedic order they are performing that whole abhishek, fixed for the whole year. But for all the rest, or for those who are initiated according to tantra and agama, there is a very great deal of subject matter.
What if one cannot sit beside the Shivling for the path in Shravan?
He says that in Shravan, if it does not work out to sit beside the Shivling for the path, then you can sit beside Nandi ji, do the path and offer it to Nandi ji. Do the path to Nandi ji; for the samarpan, go to the Shivling. If you cannot go, then, offering it there, speak into Nandi ji's ear — closing one ear and speaking into the other — that my japa, please convey it to Prabhu ji. He will convey it, the speaker says.
Does one's ishta worship change with the month?
Whatever the month, the speaker says, your own shakti must remain the same. If you do the seva of Narayani, of Jagadamba, then in every month it is her puja that will happen. Along with it, do the pujan of that month's devatas as far as your capacity allows. In Shravan the Rudrabhishek and Shiva ji's puja and daily abhishek certainly happen, but Bhagwati's puja will also happen alongside — she is principal and cannot be left.
Savan begins the day after Guru Purnima, and its preparation starts with the Guru pujan
Because Savan begins the day after, and at least three Savan sadhanas already on the channel will be given in proper sequence. The first worship must be of your own Guru — the beginning of it all is from Guru Purnima itself.
Completely new practitioners begin with Ganpati in the month of Bhadrapada
Bhadon is coming — and in the month of Bhadrapada, those who are new practitioners and want to begin from the very start will begin at that time with Ganpati ji.
What oil may replace mustard oil?
The speaker will not tell anyone to use groundnut oil. Rice-bran oil, groundnut oil — if mustard is unavailable, use ghee.
What should diksha-holders do on Guru Purnima as the divya Sawan begins?
The speaker says the subject is the divya Sawan that begins from Guru Purnima. From the Ashadh Purnima, on the Guru Purnima day, those who are diksha-holders should at least perform the puja of their guru. He wants to give listeners clarity on what all can be done in Sawan, because clarity makes the doing easier.
Why is the mool form of a mantra best?
As much benefit as can come from the mool, he says, will come from nothing else. So do what has been stated as the mool matter in the Shiv Puran, which is a shastrokta matter. Do the Panchakshari by the vidhi vidhan that has been given, and there will be great benefit.
How can two sava lakh anushthans be completed in one Sawan?
How good it would be, he says, if twenty-seven malas were done in the morning and twenty-seven in the evening — twenty-seven at both times. Then at the least two anushthans of a sava lakh each would be completed. He calls this Sawan tremendous, saying it has come after nineteen years, a full sixty days, and that roughly this much time has been obtained.
Set aside any grudge and put these sixty days into the shelter of Bhagwan Shiva.
He asks listeners to set aside, this time, whatever quarrel or grudge they hold against him, and his one request is that they take the shelter of Bhagwan Shiva and put these sixty days into their life. Twenty-seven malas takes fifteen or twenty minutes at most, so half an hour morning and half an hour evening.
Why should no prayoga be done during Sawan?
He says the sixty days of Sawan are so tremendous because Purushottam Maas is on top of Sawan — a wondrous time of Harihar — and two sava lakh japas will comfortably be completed. He then says repeatedly: this time do not do prayoga vidhi, do not do prayoga. Do not make the sankalpa that you are undertaking this for the fulfilment of such-and-such a desire.
Two sava lakh anushthans can be completed comfortably now, and the body may not support you when the time returns.
He says two sava lakh anushthans will be done very comfortably this time, and life will change; Mahadev will certainly show some kripa, something good will certainly happen, and one does not know which prarabdha may be cut or which path may open. If you must look only at profit and loss, then look at it that way too: right now there may be strength in the body to sit cross-legged, but this time will pass, and one does not know when it will come again or whether the body will support you.
What is the consequence of doing a prayoga in Sawan?
In Sawan especially, he says, if you have done such a prayoga vidhi, then that mantra has become keelit for ever; it will never again work for you, and on top of that you will become shrapit as well. Now begin the shraap vimochan vidhi from the start. Only when the shraap vimochan begins to bear fruit will the siddhi of this mantra happen again, and only then will it give its effect.
When should prayogas be done instead of in Sawan?
He hopes listeners will do whatever vidhi vidhans they have done in the right manner, will not do a prayoga in a wrong manner, and will avoid doing a prayoga in Sawan. Do the prayoga in Bhadwari — in the month of Bhadrapada there is the Tara Chaturdashi and the Amavasya, and there will be a great many prayoga vidhis then. Those in personal contact, whose work is running, will all be made to do the prayoga vidhi by him. But do not, in a rush, let this Sawan — a greatly divine Sawan — go to waste. Do not use it up in prayoga; in this time let there be as much seva, puja, archan, japa, havan and daan-punya as possible for Mahadev and Prabhu Vishnu together with Ma Bhagavati Jagdamba, so that the strength of our mantras increases, our deities are pleased, the pitrs and forebears of the kula are pleased, and our material and spiritual life both advance.
What should a sadhak feel when Sawan closes?
When Sawan is complete, after Rakshabandhan, there should be a divine aura within us, and it should feel that yes, this Sawan did not go in vain — we have done the sava lakh of the Panchakshari, we have done the ashtottara shatanam, we have done such-and-such of their mala mantras. Then there will be a peace within you; you will become far more calm than before, and your intellect will become far sharper. A gladness will remain in the mind at having done so much, and from that itself the path will form. The path is not going to form out of haste.
Is cutting hair, beard and nails forbidden in Sawan?
Getting the beard cut, the hair done and the nails cut in Sawan does remain forbidden, he says, but look at your own situation: if you are in a job, in a profession, and your profile is such that it is not allowed there, then there is no difficulty. Those who do the other sadhanas, the long ones that run through the whole of Sawan, should not have their beard, hair, nails and the like cut.
Is there a special Sawan vidhan for Surya and Tulsi?
Asked about vidhis in Sawan for Suryadev and Tulsi ji for the removal of all sins and doshas, he says that in the month of Sawan the most special vidhi vidhan is for Bhagwan Shiva, and he has probably already discussed all of those. For Shiva ji, for Tulsi ji, in this month he does not feel there is any such special vidhi vidhan. What has been stated according to shastra for Sawan is to arrange the maximum water — but if a vidhi were done of giving Tulsi ji more water, that too is a problem, because excess water should not be given to her. And for Bhagwan Surya, what has been said from before is what should be done.
Is brahmacharya obligatory during the Panchakshari japa?
The observance of brahmacharya in the Panchakshari japa is absolutely obligatory, he says. In Sawan, eating and drinking and the observance of brahmacharya are all obligatory. In Chaturmas it is obligatory.
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