Monday Shiva Puja — Complete Step-by-Step Guide

📿 Somvar — Mahadev Ka Din

Hafte ke saat din mein se Somvar (Monday) Shiva ka din hai. "Soma" matalab Chandrama — aur Chandrama Shiva ke mathe par hai (as crescent moon). Isliye Somvar ko Shiva ki pooja ka din maana jaata hai. Ek aur connection — Som = Somras (divine nectar/amrit) — aur Shiva Somras ke swami hain.

Somvar ko Shiva ki pooja karne se — ek hafta bhara sukoon milta hai. Jo log regular Somvar vrat rakhte hain unhe spiritual growth bahut tezi se hoti hai. Shiva Purana mein kaha gaya hai — "Jo Somvar ko niyamit Shiva pooja karta hai, use jeewan mein koi bhi manokamna poori hoti hai."

Puja Ki Taiyaari

Acchi pooja ke liye taiyaari utni hi zaroori hai jitni pooja khud. Yahan kya karein:

• Snaan (Bath): Subah brahm muhurt mein (sunrise se pehle, ideally 4-6 AM) uthein aur snaan karein. Agar thanda paani na chale toh lukewarm theek hai par Somvar ko thanda paani vishesh shubh hai.
• Vastra (Clothes): Safed (white) — Shiva ko sabse priya. Alternatively, peela ya grey bhi theek. Kisi bhi cheez se bachein jo torn ya dirty ho.
• Mann (Mind): Puja se pehle 5 minute ke liye baith jaayein — apne mann ko shant karein. Sab tension aur worries mentally Shiva ko de do. Pooja mein distracted mann se pooja karne se achha hai thoda late karna.
• Direction: Pooja ghar mein north ya east face karke baithna shubh hai.

Pooja Samagri List

Step-by-Step Pooja Vidhi

Step 1 — Sankalp (Intention Setting)

Pooja shuru karne se pehle — thodi der ke liye haath jodo, aankhein band karo. Mann hi mann Mahadev se kaho: "Mahadev, aaj main aapki pooja kar raha/rahi hoon. Mujhe aashirwad do." Yeh sankalp lena pooja ko intentional banaata hai.

Step 2 — Shivling Ki Shuddhi

Ek cloth se Shivling ko saaf karein. Phir thoda gangajal (ya saaf jal) chadhaayein aur kapde se pooch lein.

Step 3 — Jal Abhishek

Copper lote se dheere-dheere jal Shivling par chadhaayein — top se. Saath mein bolein: "OM NAMAH SHIVAY" — baar baar. Jal dheere chadhaayen, tezi se nahi.

Step 4 — Milk Abhishek

Fresh milk se dheeray chadhaayen. Bolein: "OM NAMAH SHIVAY — Dugdhabhi-shekanam samarpayami."

Step 5 — Panchamrit Abhishek

Agar possible ho — panchamrit (milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar milakar) chadhaayen.

Step 6 — Bel Patra Arpan

Teen-patti bel patra Shivling par rakhen — pattis ka side (glossy side) neeche. Ek ek karke, haath Shivling ke paas le jaake. Bolein: "Om Namah Shivaya — Bilvapatraan Samarpayami."

Step 7 — Pushp, Akshat, Sindoor

Phool chadhaayein, chawal ke dane chadhaayein, phir chandan tilak lagaayein Shivling par. Yeh sab ek ishara hai — prakriti ka sab kuch Shiva ko arpan hai.

Step 8 — Dhoopaarti

Agarbatti jalaayein, ghee diya jalaayein. Aankhein band karke diya Shivling ke saamne ghuma ke aarti karein. Shiv Aarti gaayein ya bolein.

Step 9 — Mantra Jaap

Rudraksha mala pe 108 baar "Om Namah Shivaya" bolein. Agar mala nahi toh fingers pe count karein.

Step 10 — Pradakshina aur Pranam

Shivling ki teen baar clockwise pradakshina (circumambulation) karein. Phir sashtang pranam (full body bow) karein.

Mukhya Mantras

Sawan Somvar — Vishesh Niyam

Sawan ke chaaron Somvar extra powerful hote hain. In dino ke liye additional niyam:

• Subah se raat tak upavaas (fast) — sirf ek baar saatvik bhojan (bina namak)
• Pooja mein bilva patra ka vishesh dhyan rakhein — zyada se zyada chadhaayein
• Kavad yatra ya local Shiv mandir mein special darshan ka prayas karein
• Ghar mein Shiv Katha padhein ya sunein
• Paas padosi ya zarooratmand ko bhojan khilaayein — yeh seva Shiva ki pooja ke barabar hai

Vrat Ka Bhojan — Kya Khaayen

Agar poora upavaas (full fast) nahi kar sakte toh yeh khaa sakte hain:

• Fruits (fal) — banana, apple, mango, coconut
• Milk, curd (dahi)
• Sabudana (sago) khichdi — bina namak
• Singhari atta ki poori ya halwa
• Dry fruits

Jo bilkul avoid karein: Wheat/rice, salt, meat, alcohol, tobacco, onion, garlic.