What is Koti Somavaram?
Koti Somvaram is the most auspicious Monday in Karthigai month. Koti means ‘one crore’ and Somavaram means ‘Monday’. Which means this Monday is equivalent to one crore Mondays. Performing holy rituals on this day brings more blessings and benign results. Kartigai is a very auspicious month for Hindus. This month is special for Lord Shiva while certain days are special for Lord Vishnu. Many religious rituals like fasting, mantra chanting, temple visits and taking holy dips in sacred rivers are performed during this month.
Koti Somavaram Rituals
Various rituals are performed during this auspicious month. People observe fasts on auspicious days including Mondays. Normally, they fast during the day and take food after sunset. Koti Somavaram, which is the most auspicious Monday, falls on the Monday before full moon day in Kartigai month on Shravana star day. Devotees perform Abhisheka or pooja on this day and light ghee lamps for Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is believed that observing the Somavara Vratham or auspicious Monday rituals frees one from all sins. Moreover, it can lead to salvation.
The Somavara Vratham or Monday fasting is done to honor Lord Shiva. The word ‘Somavar’ is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘Soma’ meaning Chandra or the Moon. Lord Shiva is also called ‘Someshvara’ as He sports the crescent-shaped moon on His matted hair. This vratham is observed on Mondays to please Lord Someshvara and also for wish-fulfillment. It is true that this fast can be undertaken on any Monday. But there are some special Mondays in the Hindu calendar when doing this vratham is believed to be more fruitful and auspicious. The first Monday which comes after the New Moon in any month, but especially in Phalgun (February/March) month is ideal for the vratham. The Shiva Ratri festival is also held in Phalgun month. When Amavasi or no moon day comes on a Monday, it is very ideal for observing Somavara vratham and it is referred to as ‘Somavati Amavas’.
Somavara vratham is observed in different ways in different Indian states. In Gujarat, Maharashtra and the northern region, the Mondays in Shravana month, (July to August, in the Gregorian calendar), are considered auspicious for fasting and are known as Shravana Somavarams. In the southern states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, the Mondays in Karthigai (October - November) month are regarded as sacred and auspicious. They are called ‘Karthigai Somavaram’.
Koti Somavaram is considered to be very sacred. Many spiritual gurus claim that observing fast on this particular Monday gives results equivalent to fasting on all Mondays in Kartigai Masam. Besides, it frees one from the consequences of bad karma.
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