Somvati Amavasya: Significance | Katha | Rituals

Somvati Amavasya is one of the important Amavasya celebrated in the Hindu religion. When the word Somvati Amavasya is analyzed, we can conclude that an Amavasya tithi that falls on somvaar (in hindi) or Monday (in English) is called Somvati Amavasya. Amavasya is also known as a new moon day, as in the contrary purnima means full moon day. Therefore, for an Amavasya on the holy month of Shravan (sawan or savan) or jestha, to be on a Monday is completely uncertain which is more of a reason it is considered really auspicious and significant.

Significance:

Somvati Amavasya holds a special significance in depicting the Shani Jayanti and Vat Savitri Vrat. A vrat that is observed on this day is also called Somvati Amavasya Vrat or Aswath Pradakshina Vrat, as in mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures. Segregating the word, Aswath means Peepal tree and pradakshina means the holy path or residence. Combining both, we can say on this day, Lord Vishnu resides under the Peepal tree. 

People with Kaalsarp Dosh are advised to perform the Kaalsarp dosh puja to remove the dosh or negative aura from their lives. On this day devotees worship lord Shiva, lord Vishnu, and especially women keep fast and take 108 rounds of parikrama around Tulsi mata and swear to donate some fruit, clothes or any items for happiness in their lives and husbands.
At the time of pradakshina, 108 fruits should be kept aside and donated to the Vedapathi Brahmins. Observing fasts, worshipping and offerings on this day helps on to achieve the virtuous fruit of thousand cows. 

It is believed that in the Mahabharata, Bhishma, explaining the importance of this day to Yudhishthira, said that a person who bathes in the holy rivers on this day will be prosperous, healthy, and free from all miseries. It is also believed that taking a bath gives peace to the souls of the ancestors. Somvati Amavasya coincides with Hariyali Amavasya and therefore is an auspicious day to worship mata Parvati, who is an epitome of a happy married woman of Lord Shiva. According to jyotish shastra or astrology, it is often believed that on this day the moon, mercury, venus, mars, jupiter, and saturn shall remain in their respective zodiac signs. 

Somvati Amavasya Katha:

According to a legend, there was a businessman who had seven daughters and sons. All his sons were married to beautiful women but could not find suitable matches for his daughters. Layer a very old and poor brahmin started visiting their house to seek alms and in return blessed every son to be happy in their married life. Unlike, when the daughters used to seek the blessings, he always used to bless them to stay happy with their brothers. 

One day, on learning about the Brahmin's blessings, the wife of the businessman asked him why he never spoke about the marriage of the girls. And to answer her curious question, the poor old Brahmin said that the daughters were not destined to get married. After knowing about it, the mother was shattered and asked if there was a way to change her destiny. Therefore, the Brahmin suggested that the girl must seek the blessings of a holy woman named Sona, who lived several miles away. The girl then left for Sona's house along with one of her seven brothers. As they walked miles, they took shelter under a tree on the banks of a river. 

A while later, after seeing a snake that was about to eat two newly hatched eggs in a nest on the tree, she killed the reptile to save them. Subsequently, when the parents of the little birds arrived, they thanked the girl for saving their children and took her and her brother to Sona's house. The girl quietly visited Sona's house every day and did all her household chores
Sona, who had two daughters-in-law, wondered why they are no longer fighting amongst themselves over the household chores. Therefore, she decided to find out the hard truth. 

One day, she saw the businessman's daughter doing all the work, and asked her to reveal her identity. The girl narrated her story and sought her blessings for her marriage. Sona readily agreed to bless her and asked her to invite her to her wedding ceremony. A few days later, the business found a suitable match for his daughter and got her married to him.
However, on the day of the wedding, the groom died of a snake bite. But Sona's presence changed the fate of the girl. Sona blessed the groom by making him drink some water. Within seconds, he bounced back to life. Sona was blessed because she observed vrat on Somvati Amavasya days.

Ritual of Somvati Amavasya:

1. Wake up early in the morning(brahma muhurta) and visit a temple or a holistic place.
2. Take a bath in the holy Ganga, or yamuna as it is considered really auspicious. If it is not feasible, put ganga jal in normal water and take bath in it.
3. Perform Hawan, yagya, pind daan and tarpan by a priest who knows how to perform the puja well.
4. Offer food and clothes to the priest who performs the puja on behalf of you.
5. You can also perform a Gayatri jaap for your ancestors. 

Things not to do:

1. Avoid the initiation of a new venture, business, or journey.
2. Avoid buying new clothes or materials.
3. Avoid performing holistic cultural events such as marriages.
4. Avoid having non-vegetarian food.