Shiva
Sawan Shivratri
The Shivratri of Shiva's own month: the night the kanwar water comes home.
Tithi: Shravana Krishna Chaturdashi (purnimanta) (north) · Ashadha Krishna Chaturdashi (west & south) — the same night
Which calendar do you follow?
The bright fortnight is named the same everywhere. A dark fortnight belongs to one month in the north and to the month before it in Maharashtra, Gujarat and the south: the same night, two true names. Saved only on this device.
In the simplest words
Shivratri that falls in the rain month of Sawan, Shiva's favourite season, when kanwariyas walk barefoot carrying Ganga water for his abhishek.
The story & purpose
Every month's Krishna Chaturdashi is a shivratri, but Sawan's stands beside Maha Shivratri itself, for the whole month already belongs to Shiva. It is the destination of the kanwar yatra: barefoot pilgrims who carried Ganga water for days pour it on the shivalinga of their own town's temple tonight.
The rest of the story
The samudra manthan story shades this month: it was in Shravana, many hold, that Shiva drank the halahala, so the water poured over him all month is the world's cooling thanks.
What is done
Jalabhishek
Ganga jal or clean water over the linga with bel leaves: the heart of the day, however plain.
Vrat & nishita puja
Day fast, night worship at the midnight hour, as on Maha Shivratri.
Panchakshari jaap
Om Namah Shivaya, 108 or a night-long mala.
Best timings
Abhishek from morning; the four prahars of night for the full vidhi.
Exact muhurat varies by city and tradition; for the precise hour, consult a local panchang for your location.
Worth knowing
Kanwar routes from Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Sultanganj swell to tens of millions in Sawan.
Kashi Vishwanath, Baidyanath, and Neelkanth see their densest month around this night.
South of the Vindhyas (amanta reckoning) this night falls in Ashadha; the month names differ, the night is one.
Mantras of this festival
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Panchakshara — Om Namah Shivaya
Begin jaap →ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Mahamrityunjaya mantra
Begin jaap →ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि । तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात् ॥
Rudra Gayatri
Begin jaap →कर्पूरगौरं करुणावतारं संसारसारं भुजगेन्द्रहारम् । सदा वसन्तं हृदयारविन्दे भवं भवानीसहितं नमामि ॥
Karpura Gauram
Begin jaap →