God:
Monday is dedicated to
Lord
Shiva. On this day, he is worshipped along with his consort goddess Parvati.
Though, of course, as is the custom,
Lord
Ganesha is venerated right at the beginning of the worship. Devotees also
listen to
Shiva
Bhajans on this day.
Ritual:
The 'Somvar Vrat' or Monday fast is observed from sunrise till
sunset and the devotee partakes of the food only after saying his evening prayer.
Fasting on Mondays in the month of Shravan is considered even more auspicious.
Hindus believe that observing a fast or 'upvaas' on Mondays will satisfy Lord
Shiva who will grant them wisdom and fulfill all their desires. In some places,
unmarried girls and spinsters keep fast to be blessed with an ideal husband.
Folklore:
This tradition goes back to Hindu mythology, though the myths
vary greatly from region to region. Among the popular ones are: There lived
a very poor Brahmin who started devoting his Mondays to fasting and worshipping
Lord Shiva. After a period of time, the Lord was satisfied with his devotion
and blessed him with wealth. Another lore speaks of a rich merchant who begets
a son after a prolonged wait but the child dies. It is only with the grace of
Lord Shiva and Parvati that the son is reborn. A third story is describes a
game of dice played between Shiva and Parvati that makes Monday important for
Shiva.
Color & Gem:
White is the preferred color of the day and Pearl the
preferred gem.
Celestial Body:
The Moon (Chandra) rules Monday.
