Neelkanth — why Sawan belongs to Shiva
During the Samudra Manthan, before the amrita emerged, the ocean yielded the halahala — a poison potent enough to destroy the three worlds. As devas and asuras fled, Shiva gathered the poison in his p…
During the Samudra Manthan, before the amrita emerged, the ocean yielded the halahala — a poison potent enough to destroy the three worlds. As devas and asuras fled, Shiva gathered the poison in his palm and drank it. Parvati pressed his throat so the poison would rise no further, and it lodged there, turning his throat blue — Neelkanth. To soothe the burning, the devas poured the cool water of the Ganga over him through the month of Shravana.
This is why Sawan's central rite is jal abhishek — pouring water (and milk, curd, honey and bilva leaves) over the Shivalinga, repeating the devas' act of gratitude. It is also the month in which Parvati began the tapasya that won Shiva as her husband, which is why Sawan's Tuesdays carry the Mangala Gauri vrat and its Tritiya carries Hariyali Teej.