Sawan: The Month to Purify Soul and Life - Special Practices for Mind Body and Spirit

How to Achieve Complete Purity of Mind Body and Soul During Sawan

With the arrival of Sawan (Shravan Maas), all over India the monsoon rains bring greenery and a feeling of sanctity. This is not only a religious season but according to ancient traditions an ideal time to stabilize your energy, clear your mind and dive deep within yourself. According to Vedic scriptures, yoga and Ayurveda this period marks an increase in the Vata dosha (air and space) which can cause mental unrest and fatigue. Hence adopting special practices during Sawan to cleanse not just the body but also emotions, mind and soul becomes essential.

First Practice: Fast, Not Just From Food, But Also From Distracting Thoughts

• Observe a fast or vrat on Mondays (Somvar) not only from food but also from unnecessary noise and disturbance.
• Choose one day a week to completely detox from mobile phones television and social media.
• Avoid not just YouTube or WhatsApp but also the overload of office gossip and news.
• Give yourself some hours of silence-listen to Shiva chants or just sit in complete stillness-this will recharge your mental energy.

Second Practice: Include Genuine Love in Your Plate

• During Sawan, avoid tamasic foods like onion, garlic, excess salt, fried and fermented foods and nonvegetarian dishes.
• Food carries energy-what you consume shapes your thoughts.
• To keep the mind calm, pure and meditative - prefer sattvic foods.
• Include sabudana (tapioca), fruits, coconut water chestnuts cow’s milk ghee and rock salt in your meals.
• Eat attentively without distractions-no networking or Netflix.

Third Practice: Perform Jalabhishek Inside and Outside

• Pouring water on the shivling symbolizes cooling the internal fire.
• Similarly calm down the emotional heat within-anger jealousy sorrow.
• Every Monday write down three things that weigh you down emotionally, tear the paper and pour water on the writing-one drop per burden.

Fourth Practice: Walk Barefoot on Wet Grass or Earth in the Morning

• Walking barefoot on wet ground after rain relieves physical and mental negativity.
• Walk without slippers on grass and chant “Om Namah Shivaya” in rhythm with your breath-your body and mind will find peace.

Fifth Practice: Dedicate a Journal to Shiva

• No need for excessive prayers or rituals.
• Write your feelings daily either morning or night in a diary.
• Honestly express what made your mind heavy and what you find hard to release.
• Sincere self-dialogue or conversation with Shiva begins true spiritual practice.

Sixth Practice: Chant Even If Sanskrit Is Unknown

• Mantras exert power not just by pronunciation or language but by their vibrational energy.
• Recite “Om Namah Shivaya” (meaning: I bow to the inner Shiva) 108 times daily.
• Even if your voice cracks, your mind wanders keep chanting.
• Chant while folding clothes, cooking or walking.

Seventh Practice: Offer Milk in Worship But Also Offer Compassion to Yourself

• Offer milk bel patra and datura to Shiva but also cultivate gentleness, rest and sincerity for yourself.
• Keep fasts but avoid harboring anger or jealousy else the vrat loses its true impact.
• Sawan celebrates self-discovery and touch, not mere renunciation.

Eighth Practice: Choose Reflection Over Reaction

• Shiva is called Bholenath not because of naivety but because he chooses peace over reaction.
• In conflicts pause and ask “Is it my ego speaking or my soul?”
• Spend one day observing without reacting, only noticing and journaling your triggers-this is genuine tapasya.

Ninth Practice: Serve Without Seeking Praise

• Instead of only offering water or milk at temples during Sawan feed the hungry plant trees call those in grief.
• Serve without posting on social media or expecting thanks-this is true silent service like Shiva’s.

Tenth Practice: Sleep Early and Wake Before Sunrise

• According to yogic tradition Brahmamuhurta (4 to 6 AM) is ideal for meditation and spiritual practice.
• Spend 15 minutes in silence chanting, reading shlokas or writing.
• Let your breath not phone ringtone greet the morning.
• Take a digital detox for an hour after sunset for mental calmness.

The Essence of Sawan: Presence and Self-Reflection

Sawan does not demand perfection, only your true presence. It does not ask how many rules you followed but whether your mind and soul were engaged when you did. This month acts as a mirror reflecting what burdens and suppressed emotions you carry. Clean your plate, your habits and your thoughts-not out of guilt but out of love. Because cleaning the body is hygiene but cleansing the soul is real freedom.