Post No. 12,119
Date uploaded in London – – 11 June , 2023
Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com
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First part was posted yesterday. This is the second part.
Monday is called Somvaar or Somavaara by Hindus. It is a sacred day to Lord Shiva who has a crescent moon in his forehead. Moon is Soma in Sanskrit.
Some people observe full day fast or up to 4 pm. Hindu fasts begin from sunrise. Shiva temples are crowded on Mondays (Moon Days).
Mondays of the month Shraavan (July- August) are considered especially sacred and generally observed as fasts. Even non-vegetarian Shiva worshippers don’t eat meat or fish on Mondays.
There are lot of stories about Monday fast and benefits of fasting. And there is a strange belief as well. If you kill a centipede on Mondays it is considered offering three Tolass of gold to Shiva.
(Tola is a measure)
Solah Somvar fast is very popular in North India. It is a fast observed for 16 consecutive Mondays starting from Shravan month (Shravan= Sawan in colloquial speech; sola = 16१६. सोलह (solaa), 16 )
As usual, all the benefits are listed, one can get by observing this fast.
Somavati is the name of a Monday if it happens on Amavasya day.
Phaski
A palmful of grain presented by women to Shiva on every Monday throughout a year or throughout the month of Shraavan (July- August) or offering of grain as much in quantity as could be taken on the palms of both hands joined together to form a receptacle is called Phaski .
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Importance of Tuesdays- Mangalvaar
Mangal Gauri Vratas or Mangal Chandi vratas are observed on Tuesdays. Many stories are there about getting children by observing such fasts.
Sankashth Mangalvaar
A fast is observed in Bengal by people who have lost their relations or in distress. So it is called distress/ sankasth removing Tuesdays .
Durga and Skandha (Murugan in Tamil) are worshipped by Tamils on Tuesdays. All the shrines of those two gods are crowded on Tuesdays. But in North India, Hanuman is worshipped on Tuesdays.
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Significance of Wednesday – Budhvar
Mercury is Budha in Sanskrit. Jupiter is Guru in Sanskrit.
Both are worshipped on all Wednesdays and Thursdays in the month of Shraavana. They are worshipped with garlands in the morning. If good harvest is desired, figures of these planets are drawn on the corn bin; if wealth is desired on the store chest.
Budha is associated with lord Krishna as well. Maharashtrians observe fast to worship Vitoba of Pandharpur.
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Significance of Thursday – Guruvar
Many people associate this day with their actual Guru/Teacher instead of planet Guru. For instance Sathya Sai Baba advised everyone to do Bhajan on Thursdays.
Generally there is a pattern followed by Hindus
Monday -Siva worship
Tuesday – Gauri , Durga , Skandha worship
Wednesday – Budha worship
Thursday – Jupiter , Acharya worship
Fridays – Lakshmi worship, all goddesses
Saturn –Sani , Hanuman
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Friday Worship
Lot of women observe Friday fast or Puja. Lalitha Sahasranama is recited in groups; Vedic pundits do Sri Suktam recitation for gaining wealth and prosperity. All Devi temples get a huge crowd on Fridays. Though Venus/Sukra is male in Hindu astrology, more importance is given to Goddess on Fridays.
Tamil women do take full bathing (head to foot) with oil on Fridays.
Jivantika , Goddess of Longevity, is worshipped by observing fast, during Shraavan(Aavani in Tamil) month.
Sankata vrata is observed on Fridays to eliminate all difficulties.
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Saturday worship
Saturday is dedicated to the worship of Hanuman and Sani Bhagavan (Sanaih Charan = slow moving planet).
Kshetra means field. Kshetra devi is the Goddess of Fields. Bengalis worship her on Satudays in the month of Agrahaayan (November- December) and it is called Kshetra Vrata.
Sampat Shanivar
Every Saturday in the month of Shraavan is called Sampat Shanivar or wealth giving Saturday .
In South India , all Hanuman temples are visited by the devotees and special Vadai Maalai (spicy Doghnuts garlands) is offered to Anjaneya.
Wherever there is a Navagraha shrine, devotees offer Sesame seed or oil lamps to Lord Sani (planet Saturn). Almost all Tamil temples have Navagrahas (Nine Planet) shrine.
In places like Shani Shingnapur in Maharashtra, Shani is worshipped separately.
In Tamil Nadu men take oil bath on Saturdays.
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Sunday Worship
Surya is the planet for health. So Sunday is dedicated to Surya/Sun. the word Solar is derived from Sanskrit Surya. Devotees recite Aditya Hrudaya hymn , do Suryanamaskar ritually and increase the number of recitation of powerful Gayatri mantra on Sunday.
In general, if a planet is weak in one’s horoscope, astrologers ask the person to worship that planet on that day. If Budha is weak then one is asked to go to temples on Wednesdays.
There are Navagraha Gayatris, Navagraha hymns and the person is advised to recite that particular Graha mantra. For example, if one has Jupiter in a weak position in horoscope, one is asked to recite Guru hymn from the Navagraha hymn.
Each family observes certain fast for some specific reason as well. The reasons for Fasting are endless.
So ,all days are important to Hindus, and particularly, all days in the month of Shraavan (Aaavani in Tamil) are important for the Hindus.
–subham—
Tags- Days of week, Shani, Guru, Budha
Tamil and Vedas 