The beginning of the sacred month of Savan, beloved by Lord Bholenath, is approaching, and Shiva devotees eagerly await this blessed time. In 2026, the start of Savan promises to be exceptionally special and fruitful, as four major and rare auspicious combinations form on the very first day.
Since Savan begins on July 30, 2026, these amazing astrological combinations significantly increase the religious importance and the fruits of worship on this day. According to the Hindu Panchang, the month of Savan will begin on Thursday, July 30, 2026, and end on August 28, 2026. Throughout this month, there is a special rule for performing Jalaabhisheka, Rudrabhisheka, and observing the fast on Monday of Savan, dedicated to Shiva.
On the first day of Savan 2026, four special auspicious yogas are formed. Among them is Ayushman Yoga, which in astrology is considered to grant excellent health and long life. Performing Jalaabhisheka on Shiva and chanting the Mahamurtindжая mantra in this yoga achieves great well-being.
Also present on this day is Saubhagya Yoga, which, as its name suggests, brings happiness, peace, and prosperity into life. Worship, devotion, and charity performed in this yoga yield unforgettable results.
The beginning of the month of Savan falls on Thursday, the day dedicated to Vishnu, the preserver of creation, and Devagra Brahma. Therefore, besides worshipping Mahadeva, worshipping Shrihari Vishnu on the first day of Savan will ensure continuous blessings from both deities.
Furthermore, Savan begins in the Shravana nakshatra, which is considered the best for spiritual progress, meditation, and starting auspicious deeds. Worshipping Shiva in this nakshatra helps fulfill desires quickly.
There are specific auspicious time intervals for worshipping Shiva: Brahma Muhurta—from 4:18 AM to 4:59 AM; Muhurta Raat: Sandhya—from 4:39 AM to 5:41 AM; Abhijit Muhurta—from 12:00 PM to 12:54 PM. Worship of Lord Shiva can be performed during all these periods.
The simple procedure for worship on the first day of Savan includes waking up early, taking a shower, and dressing in clean clothes, after which one must take an oath and begin the worship. It is necessary to visit a home temple or a Shiva temple to perform the ritual of bathing with holy water and Gangajal, and then conduct Panchamrita Abhishek with milk, yogurt, honey, and sugar.
During the worship, a sandalwood tilak should be applied to the Shivlinga, and his favorite offerings—bellpatra, dhatura, bhang, akri flowers, and akshat—should be presented. It is also extremely important to chant the mantra 'Om Namah Shivaya' or Mahamurtindжая at least 108 times. On this day, before Lord Vishnu, a ghee lamp should be lit and an offering of bananas or yellow sweets should be made, followed by donating grain or clothes to the needy.
The beginning of the sacred month of Shravan, dedicated to the worship of the deity Mahadeva, is approaching. In Hinduism, the month of Shravan holds deep spiritual and religious significance as it is entirely devoted to the worship of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Mondays falling in this month are especially revered by devotees due to their great mystical power.
According to religious beliefs, observing a fast on a Monday in Shravan and bathing the Shiva Lingam with holy water brings immense satisfaction to Shiva, helping to free followers from all suffering and sorrow.
According to the Hindu calendar, the month of Shravan will begin on July 30, 2026, on a Thursday. The first Monday of Shravan will be four days after the start of the month, which is August 3, 2026. On this day, a large gathering of pilgrims is expected at temples across the country, who will perform Jalaabhishekam (bathing) and receive the blessings of Bholenath.
The following auspicious time intervals have been set for conducting rituals: Brahma Muhurta—from 04:19 AM to 05:01 AM, and Pratah Sandhya—from 04:40 AM to 05:44 AM.
The following dates for Shravan Mondays are planned for 2026: the first is August 3, 2026; the second is August 10, 2026; the third is August 17, 2026; and the fourth is August 24, 2026.
According to religious traditions, Goddess Parvati practiced severe asceticism to attain Lord Shiva as her spouse, and she achieved this during these fasts. It is believed that unmarried girls who observe the fast on a Monday in Shravan are destined to meet a desired and worthy life partner. Married women also observe this fast for the longevity, good health, and happiness of their husbands. Furthermore, bathing Shiva on the first Monday of Shravan helps to rid one of various astrological problems, such as Chandra Dosha, Mangal Dosha, and Kaal Sarp Dosha.
The ritual begins with morning bathing and taking an oath: one must wake up before sunrise, take a bath, and wear clean clothes, preferably green, yellow, or white. Then, holding water, one should recite the vow of fasting. After this, one needs to visit a home temple or the nearest Shiva temple to worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Pure water is first poured over the Shiva Lingam, followed by raw milk, Gangajal, yogurt, honey, and ghee (Panchamrit), concluding with pure water. Next, one should offer Bholenath's favorite offerings: Belpatra (three-leafed), dhatura, bhang, shamipatra, sandalwood, akshat (rice), white flowers, and bhasma. During the worship, one must continuously mentally repeat the mantras 'Om Namah Shivaya' or Mahamrutingjaya. It is also recommended to read or listen to the story of the fast on Monday in Shravan. The ritual concludes with Aarti and offering fruits, nuts, or sugar to Shiva.
In Hinduism, the Ekadashi fast holds a special place, and Ekadashi during the Ashadha month in the waning phase is called Yogini Ekadashi. It is believed that this fast can destroy all sins and bring happiness and prosperity into life. According to ancient scriptures, observing the Yogini Ekadashi fast brings the same deserved blessing as feeding eighty-eight thousand Brahmins.
This year, Yogini Ekadashi will be celebrated on July 10th. The start of the Ekadashi date begins on July 9, 2026, at 09:31 AM, and concludes on the night of July 10th at 10:11 PM. The time for opening the fast (Paran) is scheduled for July 11th, from 05:40 AM to 08:24 AM.
On the day of Ekadashi, one must wake up before sunrise, take a bath, and wear clean yellow clothing. After this, an oath is taken by holding water in the hands. Then, an image or statue of Lord Vishnu is placed on a spread-out yellow cloth in the prayer corner. Yellow flowers, akshat (whole rice grains), fruits, sandalwood, and offerings are presented to him. The presence of Tulsi leaves is mandatory when worshipping Vishnu, but it should be remembered that Tulsi leaves cannot be plucked on the day of Ekadashi, so they must be collected the day before, on Dashami.
After this, a ghee lamp is lit before Lord Vishnu, a story about Yogini Ekadashi is read or listened to, followed by chanting the Vishnu Sarasranama and concluding with Aarti. Sleeping is forbidden on the night of Ekadashi; instead, vigils are observed by engaging in kirtan or repeating mantras in the presence of divine chants. The next day, on Dwadashi, the fast is broken at an auspicious time. Before breaking the fast, it is necessary to feed and give charity to Brahmins or the needy.
Since Lord Vishnu favors the color yellow, it is recommended to wear yellow-toned clothing and offer yellow items as gifts. It is also considered very beneficial to donate water, grains, umbrellas, or clothes. It is important to maintain complete purity of thoughts, words, and actions, following the principles of Brahmacharya.
According to legend, there lived a gardener named Hem in the city of Alkapuri, which belonged to King Kubera. He used to bring flowers from Mansarovar daily to worship Shiva. However, being bound by his wife's love, he once forgot to bring the flowers on time. Enraged, Kubera cursed him, condemning him to suffer separation from his wife and turning him into a leper in the mortal world. Under the influence of this curse, Hem wandered and reached the ashram of the sage Markandeya. Hearing of his sorrow, the sage advised him to observe the Yogini Ekadashi fast in the month of Ashadha. Hem diligently observed this fast, due to which his leprosy completely disappeared, and he regained his divine appearance and union with his wife. Since then, it has been believed that observing this fast frees one from physical ailments and unintentional sins.
