व्रत · Vrat & Vrat Katha
Somvar Vrat
सोमवार व्रत
Every Monday in devotion to Lord Shiva — the simplest weekly tapasya
- When
- Every Monday — observed weekly without a fixed count
- प्रत्येक सोमवार
- Deity
- Lord Shiva
- भगवान शिव
- Purpose
- General devotion to Shiva — peace of mind, removal of obstacles, family wellbeing, dharmic discipline
About this vrat
Somvar Vrat (सोमवार व्रत) is the simplest and most accessible weekly Shiva-vrat in the Hindu calendar. Unlike the count-bound Solah Somwar (sixteen Mondays) or the seasonal Sawan-Somvar (Mondays of the holy month of Shravan), the regular Somvar Vrat has no fixed duration and no fixed count: it is observed every Monday for as long as the devotee chooses, often for life. The form is gentle, the discipline minimal, and the merit — according to the Shiva Purana — quietly profound across the years.
The vrat draws on the deep weekly association of Monday (Som) with the Moon (Chandra) and through the Moon with Lord Shiva, who wears the crescent moon as his crown. The Skanda Purana describes the Monday observance as the day on which Shiva's grace is most accessible to ordinary householders — not the night-long austerity of Maha Shivaratri, not the great pilgrimage to a Jyotirlinga, but a simple weekly visit to a Shiva temple, a single phalahar meal, a few minutes of recitation. The cumulative effect, observed across years, is an unbroken thread of Shiva-bhakti that anchors the household.
In observance, Somvar Vrat is performed as either a half-day fast (eaten in the evening only) or a single-meal phalahar. The morning involves a bath, an abhishek of the Shiva Linga (where accessible), an offering of bilva leaves, and the recitation of "Om Namah Shivaya". Many traditional families combine Somvar Vrat with extended Sawan observance, with intensified focus on Mondays of Sawan; others observe Somvar simply as the steady weekly tapas of an ordinary devotional life.
Somvar Vrat — Katha
The legendary story recited as part of the vrat. Read aloud during the morning puja.
The Somvar Vrat Katha is the story of a wealthy merchant (sahukar) who lived in a town with his wife. The couple were prosperous but had one great sorrow — they had no children, and the years had begun to pass without an heir. The merchant, growing older, prayed daily at the small Shiva temple at the edge of his town, asking the Lord for a son. His wife, equally pious, observed every fast and pilgrimage she heard of. Years passed; no child came.
One Monday, after his usual prayers, the merchant remained at the temple longer than usual. He sat before the Shiva Linga in silence, weeping at his own lack. Goddess Parvati, looking down with Lord Shiva, saw the merchant and was moved. She said to her husband: "My Lord, this merchant has been your devotee for so many years, has prayed without break, has given charity faithfully. Why do you not grant him a son?"
Lord Shiva, smiling at his consort, said: "Parvati, what you ask of me, I will grant — but on one condition that I must be true to. I will grant the merchant a son; but the boy will not live beyond the age of sixteen. The boy's lifespan is fixed by his karma; I can give the merchant a son, but I cannot give him an immortal son."
Parvati agreed; the merchant had a son the next year. The boy was named after Lord Shiva and was the joy of his parents' lives. The merchant's wife, however, was secretly told by an astrologer of the boy's fate — that he would not live past sixteen — and she carried the secret in her heart, observing the Somvar Vrat every Monday for her son's protection without fail.
When the boy was twelve, the merchant — wishing to make him learned — sent him to study with a guru in Kashi. There the boy lived for several years and became a brilliant student. As his sixteenth year approached, the merchant's wife observed the Somvar Vrat with redoubled devotion; the boy, now back in his hometown for his coming-of-age and intended marriage, was unaware of his fate.
The wedding was arranged with the daughter of a wealthy family in a neighbouring town. On the day of the wedding, the boy travelled to the bride's home with his entourage. The wedding was performed; the bride and groom returned together to the family home; everyone celebrated.
But on the wedding night, as the boy and his new bride sat together, a serpent appeared in the bridal chamber. The boy, frightened, rose to flee, but his new bride — who had herself observed Somvar Vrat through her unmarried years — did not. She sat calmly, prostrated to the serpent, and offered it a bowl of milk. The serpent drank the milk; transformed by the bride's devotion and the merit of countless Somvar Vrats observed by both mother and bride, it bowed to her and disappeared.
That morning, when the household gathered, they found the boy alive, the bride radiant, and a strange peace upon the home. The merchant's wife — who had lived for years with the secret of her son's fated death — wept with relief. The astrologer was called; he confirmed that the boy's karma had been altered, that the merit of his mother's and his bride's Somvar Vrats had reached Lord Shiva, and that the boy would now live to old age.
The boy did live to old age. He had children of his own; the merchant's lineage continued; the household became known across the region as a place where Shiva's grace had been visibly received. The katha closes with the affirmation that the simple, weekly Somvar Vrat — kept across years by ordinary devotees — accumulates a merit that can alter even fate. Whoever observes it with steady devotion is held by Shiva through the long arc of life; the protection is not loud, but it is unbroken.
Vrat Vidhi — How to observe
- Wake before sunrise. Bathe, wear clean clothes (white is auspicious for Shiva-puja, though not required). Through the day, do not eat grains until evening; speak softly; do not raise the voice in anger.
- Visit a Shiva temple — or perform home puja. If a Shiva temple is accessible, visit it in the morning. Otherwise, set up a Shiva Linga or photograph at home with a clean cloth, water, bilva leaves, and a ghee diya.
- Abhishek of the Shiva Linga. Pour pure water (or panchamrita where available) over the Linga. Apply chandan and bhasma tilak. Place bilva leaves one at a time, with the mantra "Om Namah Shivaya".
- Light the diya and offer. Light a ghee lamp. Offer white flowers, akshat, fruit, and incense. A small ghee diya kept burning through the day at the household shrine is traditional.
- Recite the katha and mantra. Read the Somvar Vrat Katha aloud — to yourself if alone, to family if gathered. Follow with "Om Namah Shivaya" recited at least 108 times, and the Mahamrityunjaya mantra eleven times.
- Single phalahar meal. Take one meal in the evening — typically after sunset. The meal should be sattvik phalahar: fruits, milk, sabudana, kuttu (buckwheat), singhare ka atta, boiled potatoes with sendha namak. No grains, onion, garlic, meat, or alcohol.
- Repeat every Monday. Unlike Solah Somwar, this vrat has no fixed end; many devotees observe it for years or for life. Hold a sankalpa if you have one; otherwise, observe simply as ongoing devotion.
Mantras
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Salutations to Shiva. (The Panchakshari Mantra — the heart of Shaiva devotion.)
ॐ त्र्यम्बकं यजामहे सुगन्धिं पुष्टिवर्धनम् । उर्वारुकमिव बन्धनान्मृत्योर्मुक्षीय मामृतात् ॥
Om Tryambakam Yajamahe Sugandhim Pushti-Vardhanam · Urvarukamiva Bandhanaan Mrityormukshiya Maamritat
We worship the three-eyed Shiva, the fragrant nourisher of all. As a ripe cucumber is freed from its stem, so may we be freed from the bondage of death — towards immortality. (The Mahamrityunjaya Mantra.)
Udyapan — The concluding ceremony
Because the regular Somvar Vrat has no fixed end, the udyapan is also flexible:
— **For lifelong observance**: there is no single udyapan. Many devotees mark major milestones (a particular wish granted, a year of unbroken observance, the family wedding for which the vrat began) by performing a Rudrabhishek at a Shiva temple and feeding eleven brahmins with kheer, halwa, and prasad.
— **For a goal-bound observance** (e.g. taken until a wish is fulfilled): once the wish is granted, perform a Rudrabhishek of the Shiva Linga at home or at a temple, recite the Sri Rudram if possible, light eleven ghee diyas, and feed eleven brahmins or community members. Donate a small amount (food, clothing, or money) to a Shiva temple or to those in need.
— **For an annual close**: many devotees use Maha Shivaratri (Phalguna Krishna Chaturdashi) as the annual culmination of their Somvar tapas — a night-long jagaran with abhishek across four praharas, feeding, and donation. After Shivaratri, the weekly Somvar observance begins anew for the year ahead.
— **In all cases**: the spirit of the udyapan is gratitude — for the steady, quiet protection that an ongoing Monday observance has offered through the years.
Frequently asked questions
What is Somvar Vrat?
Somvar Vrat is a weekly Monday vrat dedicated to Lord Shiva. Unlike the count-bound Solah Somwar (sixteen Mondays) or the seasonal Sawan-Somvar (Mondays of Shravan month), the regular Somvar Vrat has no fixed duration — it is observed every Monday for as long as the devotee chooses, often for life. The form is simple: a morning Shiva-puja, a single phalahar meal, recitation of the Somvar Vrat Katha, and 'Om Namah Shivaya'.
What is the difference between Somvar Vrat and Solah Somwar Vrat?
Somvar Vrat is the regular weekly Monday observance with no fixed count — observed for years or for life. Solah Somwar Vrat is the specific sixteen-Monday observance with a clear sankalpa, taken for marriage, marital bliss, or a major wish, and concluded with a formal udyapan in the sixteenth week. The Somvar Vrat Katha (the merchant's son story) is shared across both observances; the Solah Somwar Katha extends with the discipline of completion.
Can men observe Somvar Vrat?
Yes. Somvar Vrat is observed by men, women, married couples, unmarried devotees, and entire households. The form is the same regardless of observer; the sankalpa varies. Many men keep it as ongoing tapas for career stability, family wellbeing, and dharmic discipline.
Can I eat grains during Somvar Vrat?
The traditional Somvar Vrat permits a single phalahar meal in the evening — fruits, milk, sabudana, kuttu (buckwheat), singhare ka atta, and boiled potatoes with sendha namak (rock salt). Grains (rice, wheat, dal), onion, garlic, meat, and alcohol are avoided. Strict observers keep a full nirjala fast until evening; this is optional and not required.
What if I miss a Monday?
Because Somvar Vrat has no fixed count, missing a Monday occasionally is not a vrat-breaking error. Resume the next Monday with the same devotion. If a vrat is taken with a specific sankalpa (until a wish is fulfilled), accidentally missed Mondays should be made up at the end if possible; deliberately missed Mondays should be expiated with extra observance and a small daan.
When should I begin Somvar Vrat?
Any Monday is auspicious to begin. The first Monday of Sawan (Shravan) — typically July or August — is especially recommended, as Sawan is the holy Shiva-month and any Shiva-vrat begun then carries extra merit. The first Monday of a Hindu month, the Monday after a major Shiva festival (Maha Shivaratri, Hartalika Teej), or any Monday of personal significance are all valid starting points.