How Shraavan Somwar Can Help You Strengthen Your Moon

Adorning the head of the Adiyogi himself emphasises the profound connection between the Lord and the ephemeral conditions of the human mind. Mind is subject to change and instability, and so is the Moon.

In hindsight, the Moon is directly linked with the secret workings of the human mind. Moon is the trigger behind the carnal wants that are inherent in man since infinite times. It's only through the Shraavan Somvar, with the benedictions of Bhagwan Shiva, that the Moon can be purified and carnality be removed from the mind.

Candra was married to the 27 daughters of Daksha - one of the Prajapatis. Despite being married to all 27 of his daughters, Chandra loved Rohini (one of Daksha’s daughters) more than the others.

His other wives felt ignored and complained to their father about it.

Daksha, being the observer of the rule, cursed Chandra for his disregard towards his other 26 wives. According to Daksha’s curse, Chandra would start fading away and gradually disappear.

Chandra rules over the night, and without him, nature would run out of balance. It is through Chandra that the earth receives her power and maintains vegetation. Without him, nature would be stripped of its vitality.

Foreseeing the dissolution of Nature, Bhagwan Shiva then stepped in as the preserver of Chandra.

To counteract Dasksha’s curse, Shiva blessed Chandra in such a way that he would fade during the Krishna paksha and attain a fuller life during the Shukla paksha. Both these pakshas would last for 15 days, and in this way, Chandra would continue to live and rejuvenate the foliage on Earth.

The crescent on Bhagwan Shiva’s head symbolizes the temporality and applicability of the eternal truth. In the Vedic school of thought, ‘Soma’ means nectar and connects with the mind. Both Moon and Mind are synonymous with each other.

Worshipping Bhagwan Shiva, especially on the Shraavan Somwar, spiritually connects you with Chandra. The minutest thing that you do on Shraavan Somwar has a direct effect on your mind, and the Lunar energies radiate from your natal chart.

Moon’s negative impact on your natal chart (kundli) can produce harmful effects on your mind. On the contrary, your mind can be powerful if your natal chart produces a stronger Moon.

Get up early in the morning (Brahma Muhurat preferred).

Complete your cleansing rituals. Adding a few drops of Gangajal to your bathing water will give you auspicious results during Shraavan Somwar. However, if you do not have Gangajal, it is not essential to add it to your bathing water. While you bathe, visualize the river Ganga and surrender to her in reverence.

Wear clean and comfortable clothes - if possible, women/girls should wear a saree, and men may wear a dhoti.

If possible, keep a fast on the Shraavan Somwar. If you choose to keep a fast, you may eat one meal a day or gorge on a lighter snack of seeds, nuts, fruits or fruit juices.

However, eating a pure and sattvic diet is a prerequisite for keeping a fast on this day. Irrespective of whether you keep a fast, strictly avoid drinking nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, onions, garlic and eating non-vegetarian food on this day.

After you choose the method of fasting, clean your puja room and decorate it with flowers. If you have a Shivlinga kept in your home shrine, then worship the Linga. But if you do not have a Shivlinga, then visit a nearby Shiva temple and worship the Shivlinga there.

1. Prepare the panchamrit (mixture of curd, milk, ghee, butter and honey), bel patra leaves, clean water (preferably Ganagal), datura, chandan, cow milk, flowers.

2. Offer Panchamrit on the Shivlinga. Panchamrit is a mixture of curd, milk, ghee, butter and honey.

3. After you offer the Panchamrit, offer the cow milk(raw) on the Shivlinga. After milk, do the abhishek of clean water.

4. Apply chandan paste on the Shivlinga and offer bel patra, datura and flowers at the end.

5. Light a ghee diya, burn the incense and perform the aarti.

6. Do not be hassled if you are unable to worship the Shivlinga with any of the above ingredients. Worshipping Lord Shiva with plain water and bel patra leaves alone is enough to please the Lord.

7. Focus and surrender are above all the other materials required to worship Bhagwan Shiva on Shraavan Somvar.

1. Donate food and clothes to the needy.

2. Feed cooked rice soaked in ghee and feed a Brahmin couple.

3. Perform yoga, prayers, mantra chants and meditation as much as possible.

4. Cleanse yourself by letting go of past grudges. Thinking of forgiveness will accelerate your healing both mentally and emotionally.

5. Worship Bhagwan Shiva as much as possible by chanting his mantras and visiting his temple.

1. Do not abuse or verbally/physically hurt someone. (including birds, animals and trees)

2. Besides staying away from vices, also avoid bad company.

3. Do not insult your parents, especially your mother. Instead, touch her feet and seek her blessings.

4. Avoid putrid food.

There are many powerful mantras for the Moon. Signifying the mind, this planet is highly receptive and responds immediately when you chant its mantras on Mondays during the month of Shraavan.

The simple and most effective mantras are:

Though simple, chanting these intense mantras will effectively clear your mind and cultivate a stronger relationship with the Moon. You may chant 18 malas of any chosen mantras. Chanting the mantras for 18 malas (108 times each) will be tremendously beneficial for your mental and overall well-being.

1. Reduces the malefic effects of the Moon in your horoscope.

2. Both anxiety and depression are mental states. Observing the Shraavan Somwar will eliminate anxious thoughts and pull you out of a depressive state.

3. It will increase your self-awareness.

4. Cultivates a positive outlook and enables you to manage your emotions.

Moon is a powerful entity in Vedic astrology. The connection between the Moon and the mind is not physical. The ups and downs we experience, though, could have much to do with external circumstances, but it gradually centers down to the state of the mind.

It is the mind that can bring momentum to things we feel have gone stagnant.

Your career, relationships, people, money - be it anything, are all run by the mind. Making the Moon powerful is the key to strengthening your mind.

And, your moon can be effectively turned potent through Shraavan Somwar. The Mondays in Shraavan carry a special energy that will exert a direct effect on the Moon in your natal chart. Thus, working spiritually on Shraavan Somwar will enhance the quality of your Moon and tremendously impact your mind.