Sawan Shivratri 2022: Sawan, the fourth month of the Hindu calendar is solely dedicated to Lord Shiva. Another major event apart from the Somvars (Mondays) in Sawan is the Saawan Shivratri, which is on Tuesday, July 26. This year, the month of Sawan started on 14th July and it will be ending on 12th August. 


Significance Of Sawan Shivratri 


Also called Masa or Masik Shivratri, this Shivratri is also devoted to Lord Shiva. On this day, devotees offer their prayers of well-being and happiness to the Lord. 


As per the Hindu mythology, in this holy month of ‘Sawan’ or ‘Shravan’, Lord Shiva takes care of the whole load of the world because after applying Chaturmas, Lord Vishnu goes into Kshir sleep.


It is said that for the worship of Mahadev, the worship of four Prahars (time) in Shivaratri is considered auspicious. It is believed that for one who observes the fast of Sawan Shivaratri and worships these four Prahars, all the sorrows end from his/her life.


Puja Performed In Sawan Shivratri 


In Sawan Shivratri, the pujas are to be performed in four prahars. The four Prahar Puja (Rituals that are to be performed four times a day) of Shivaratri are performed from the evening till Brahmamuhurta (early morning).


On this day, there is a tradition of worship by doing night awakening. Mainly by this worship, the control of all the four parts of life i.e. Dharma (moral values), Artha (economics values), Kama (psychological values), and Moksha (spiritual values) are granted.


Prathama Prahar (First Prahar) 


The first Prahar is worshiped in the evening after sunset in Pradosh Kaal. Its timing is from 06.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Rituals performed in the worship of the first Prahar include dudhabhishek (offering milk to the Shiva Linga) and chanting of the holy mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’. 


Dwitiya Prahar (Second Prahar)


The worship of the second prahar takes place between 9.00 to 12.00 at the night. In this prahar, devotees offer curd to Bholenath (another name of Lord Shiva) and offer prayers to Mahadev. 


Tritiyo Prahar (Third Prahar)


The third prahar is worshiped in the middle of the night between 12.00 am to 3.00 am. Devotees perform Abhishek of Bholenath with cow's ghee. Worship of the third watch is considered auspicious to achieve success in a particular task.


Chaturth Prahar (Fourth Prahar)


The time of worship of the fourth Prahar is from 03.00 am to 06.00 am. In this prahar honey is offered to Lord Shiva. It is believed that this worship leads to salvation


Why Do We Celebrate Two Shivratri? 


The Shivratri that we celebrate on Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha, is called Mahashivratri (the great night of Shiva). The significance of the Mahasivrtri is different from Sawan Shivratri, in Mahashivratri, the devotees celebrate the union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.


Sawan Shivratri is observed on Chaturdasi Tithi of Sawan. In Sawan Shivratri, the devotees believe that on this day Mahadev takes charge of the world from Lord Vishnu. 


The whole month of Sawan is devoted to Lord Shiva and for Shaivas, or Saivas (Shiv-bhaktas) this day is considered the most auspicious.