When is the Somvar Vrat observed?

It is a weekly fast kept every Monday. Tradition considers the month of Shravan, or the first Monday of any Shukla Paksha, an auspicious time to begin, and devotees keep it for the number of Mondays they have vowed.

What can you eat during the Somvar Vrat?

Traditionally devotees take only fruit-based foods during the day — fruit, milk, curd, sabudana, or kuttu and singhara flour — and eat one sattvic meal after the evening puja. Many avoid salt, grains, onion and garlic; follow your family custom and your health needs.

How is the Solah Somvar or Sawan Somvar fast different?

The ordinary Somvar Vrat can begin at any suitable time and be kept for any vowed number of Mondays. The Solah Somvar Vrat is a vow of sixteen consecutive Mondays with its own separate katha. Sawan Somvar refers to the Mondays of the month of Shravan, considered especially sacred for Shiva worship.

In the Somvar katha, was the boy's life span twelve or sixteen years?

The story comes down through popular tradition, so printed versions differ slightly. Most vrat booklets give twelve years, while some versions say sixteen. The message of the story is the same in both.

Can unmarried women and men keep the Somvar Vrat?

Yes. Anyone may keep it — women or men, married or unmarried. Unmarried girls traditionally keep it praying for a good life partner, recalling Parvati's austerities to win Shiva as her husband.

Somvar Vrat Katha

The Monday fast for Lord Shiva — story, vidhi and rules

The Somvar Vrat is a weekly Monday fast dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati; its traditional katha tells of a childless merchant whose short-lived son was granted new life by Shiva in reward for the father's Monday devotion.

Somvar Vrat Katha

Long ago a wealthy merchant lived in a prosperous city. He lacked nothing except a child, and he worried constantly about who would carry on his household and trade. He was a devoted worshipper of Shiva: every Monday he fasted, performed the puja of Shiva and Parvati with care, and lit a ghee lamp at the Shiva temple each evening.

Moved by his steadfast devotion, Goddess Parvati asked Shiva to fulfil the merchant's wish. Shiva replied that every being receives the fruit of its own karma, and a son was not in this man's destiny. Parvati pleaded again and again, and at last Shiva granted the boon of a son, but warned that the child would live only twelve years (some popular versions say sixteen). That night Shiva revealed all of this to the merchant in a dream.

In time a son was born and the household celebrated, but the merchant could not be truly glad, knowing the boy's life would be short. He continued his Monday fasts and worship exactly as before. When the boy turned eleven, the merchant sent him to Kashi with his maternal uncle to study, instructing them to perform a yajna and feed and give alms to Brahmins at every place they stopped.

On the way, uncle and nephew reached a city where a princess was about to be married. The prince chosen for her was blind in one eye, and his father wanted to hide this. Seeing the merchant's handsome son, he tempted the uncle with money to let the boy stand in as the bridegroom for the rites. The wedding took place, but the honest boy wrote on the edge of the princess's veil before leaving: "You have been married to me, but the prince you are being sent away with has only one eye. I am going to Kashi to study." Reading this, the princess refused to leave with the one-eyed prince, and her father sent the wedding party back.

In Kashi the boy devoted himself to his studies. On the day his destined span was to end, he again performed a yajna and gave food and clothes to Brahmins. That night he lay down to sleep and did not wake. At dawn his uncle found him lifeless and began to lament. Just then Shiva and Parvati were passing by. Hearing the weeping, Parvati asked Shiva to end this sorrow. Shiva explained that this was the merchant's son, born of his own boon with a short life. Parvati pleaded that the father's devotion deserved more, and at her request Shiva restored the boy to life.

His education complete, the boy set out for home with his uncle. On the way they came to the city where he had been married, and again performed a yajna there. The king recognised him, welcomed him into the palace, and sent the princess home with him along with rich gifts of wealth and clothing.

Meanwhile the merchant and his wife had resolved that if any ill news of their son reached them, they too would give up their lives. When they heard that their son was returning with his bride, they were overjoyed. That night Shiva appeared to the merchant in a dream and said, "Pleased by your Monday fasts and your listening to this katha, I have granted your son a long life." Devotees believe that whoever keeps the Monday fast with faith and reads or hears this story receives the grace of Shiva and Parvati.

How to Observe the Vrat (Vidhi)

1. On Monday, rise early, bathe, put on clean clothes (white or light colours are traditional), and take the sankalp (vow) for the fast with a little water in your palm.

2. At your home shrine or a nearby Shiva temple, bathe the Shivalinga with water, raw milk or panchamrit (abhishek), chanting "Om Namah Shivaya" throughout.

3. Offer sandalwood paste, akshat (unbroken rice), bel (bilva) leaves, dhatura, aak or white flowers to Shiva, and roli, sindoor and flowers to Parvati. Light incense and a lamp, and offer fruit or sweets as bhog.

4. Read or listen to the Somvar Vrat Katha with devotion, then perform the aarti "Om Jai Shiv Omkara" and distribute the prasad.

5. The fast is traditionally ek-bhukt (one meal): devotees keep a fruit-only or full fast through the day and eat a single sattvic meal after the evening puja. Many avoid salt on this day. Choose a level of fasting that suits your health.

6. The vrat is kept every Monday. Tradition considers it auspicious to begin in the month of Shravan or on the first Monday of any Shukla Paksha, and to conclude with an udyapan (closing ceremony with feeding of Brahmins and charity) once the vowed number — such as 16 Mondays or one year — is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Somvar Vrat observed?: It is a weekly fast kept every Monday. Tradition considers the month of Shravan, or the first Monday of any Shukla Paksha, an auspicious time to begin, and devotees keep it for the number of Mondays they have vowed.
What can you eat during the Somvar Vrat?: Traditionally devotees take only fruit-based foods during the day — fruit, milk, curd, sabudana, or kuttu and singhara flour — and eat one sattvic meal after the evening puja. Many avoid salt, grains, onion and garlic; follow your family custom and your health needs.
How is the Solah Somvar or Sawan Somvar fast different?: The ordinary Somvar Vrat can begin at any suitable time and be kept for any vowed number of Mondays. The Solah Somvar Vrat is a vow of sixteen consecutive Mondays with its own separate katha. Sawan Somvar refers to the Mondays of the month of Shravan, considered especially sacred for Shiva worship.
In the Somvar katha, was the boy's life span twelve or sixteen years?: The story comes down through popular tradition, so printed versions differ slightly. Most vrat booklets give twelve years, while some versions say sixteen. The message of the story is the same in both.
Can unmarried women and men keep the Somvar Vrat?: Yes. Anyone may keep it — women or men, married or unmarried. Unmarried girls traditionally keep it praying for a good life partner, recalling Parvati's austerities to win Shiva as her husband.