Monday is the first day of the week. Shiva is regarded as the Supreme Being and is worshipped every minute and every day. Mondays are considered more auspicious for Shiva's prayer. Monday is called Somavar and Soma means Moon. Lord Shiva wears Tiger Skin, a Snake around his neck, his matted hair through which flows the holy river Ganga and the moon. His weapon is a three branched tridend with damru tied to the tridend.
There is a famous type of fast observed to please Lord Shiva called ‘16 Somvar Fast’. It starts on Monday from Shukla Paksh (bright period of the moon). These fasts are most fruitful when started in the month of Shravan (July – August). Shravan month is the most auspicious period because Lord Shiva drank the most powerful poison which came out of Samudhra Manthan process to save the entire universe.
Fasting process starts with sunrise and lasts till sunset. Devotees wear white clothes and do puja to Lord Shiva with Gangajal, milk or curd and white flowers. They present Nayvedhyam and seasonal fruits. During the fast , devotees consume only water, juice or fruits. In case of any health problems where fast is not possible, devotees can consume fruits. After the sunset, devotees pray to Lord Shiva and consume food.
Always chant Lord Shiva’s mantra “OM NAMAH SHIVAYA” during the puja and fasting process. It is the most powerful mantra as it is infused with positive energy. It is also called the Five-Syllable mantra.
Monday fast or Somvar Vrat is also done to get rid of health problems and diseases by reciting the “MAHAMRITYUNJAYA Mantra” 108 times. The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra is a verse of Rigveda which is also called Rudra Mantra or Trayambakam Mantra which is as follows:
Om Triyambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urva Rukmiva Bandhanan
Mrityura Mokshiya Mamratat
According to legends, Goddess Parvati did Somvar Vrat to have Lord Shiva as her husband. Since then, unmarried girls have being doing this fast to get an ideal husband like Lord Shiva.By chanting the mantras, we get rid of all the negative energy and surround ourselves with positive energy.
There is no specific time or place to recite the mantras, but the most important rule while chanting the mantras is to chant them with full devotion and faith then you can see result on your own.
Mantra:
ॐ नमः शिवाय ।
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम्
उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय माऽमृतात्
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि
तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्॥
नमामीशमीशान निर्वाणरूपं
विभुं व्यापकं ब्रह्मवेदस्वरूपम् ।
निजं निर्गुणं निर्विकल्पं निरीहं
चिदाकाशमाकाशवासं भजेऽहम् ॥१॥
ॐ नमो भगवते रूद्राय ।
करचरणकृतं वाक् कायजं कर्मजं वा श्रवणनयनजं वा मानसंवापराधं ।
विहितं विहितं वा सर्व मेतत् क्षमस्व जय जय करुणाब्धे श्री महादेव शम्भो ॥
