Shravan

Shravan (or Shravanam, Sravan, or Sravanam) is a Sanskrit word which literally means 'listening'.

In Hinduism

* Shravanam is one of the nine most important angas of bhakti.

Hindu rituals and festivals

* As "Panchanga Shravanam" - An every day ritual, normally in temples, Lord hears the reading of the daily almanac.

* Shravanam means listening to the transcendental descriptions of the Lord's names, forms, qualities, pastimes, and associates from the mouths of bhaktas. It may also mean "listening/hearing the divine names/qualities of the Lord".

* Shravan is the birth star of Lord Venkateshwara. An auspicious star out of the 27 stars in Hindu astrology. It is also referred to as Thiruvonam in Malayalam. Onam festival is celebrated on the day of this star.

* Shravan (pron. Shrāvana [see Shraavana] ) is the name of a month in Hindu calendar. It refers to the period of July to August in Hindu Lunar calendar; and August to September in Tamil Calendar (Avani). It is generally fifth month of the Hindu calendar beginning from Chaitra. Many important festivals are celebrated in this month, such as Janmashtami, Naga panchami, Avani Avittam, Shraavan Poornima, Raksha Bandhan etc. This is the most auspicious month of the Chaturmasa. On "Purnima" (full moon day)), or during the course of the month the star 'Shravan' (see above) rules the sky, hence the month is called Shravan.

In Hindu epics

*Shravan Kumar is a character in the great Hindu epic Ramayana. While taking his blind and disabled parents on a pilgrimage through the holy Hindu shrines, he is mistaken for a boar by Lord Rama's father, who is also the King. After fatally shooting Shravan with an arrow, the king apologizes to Shravan's parents. The parents then place a curse on the King that his first son will leave him when the father needs him the most.

ee also

*Hindu Epics
*Nakshatra

External links

* [http://kids.swaminarayan.org/storytime/shravan.htm Shravana Kumara]