[Advaita-l] Jagadguru Speaks: Siva Purana

[Raghav Kumar Dwivedula]

Namaste Jayanarayanan ji
Monday (somavāra) is regarded as auspicious for Lord Śiva.

 I read assertions from some historians that the seven day week
(sapta-vāra) custom is not there in the Vedic scheme and it came about only
after Indo-Greek interaction ie., after 326 BCE. Indian pañcāngas before
that had only the 15-day pakṣa and tithi scheme.

Do we have any Vedic references to sapta-vāra? Or in texts clearly dateable
to before the Greek encounter?

The amazing alignment of Indian sapta-vāra with that used in Europe etc is
intriguing. (Ie somavāra and Monday fall on the same day, Saturday and
śanivāra are the same day - we take this for granted but how did the vāra
cycle synchronize across civilizations which had minimal contact for
thousands of years?)

Om
Raghav



On Mon, 2 Feb 2026 at 11:46 PM, S Jayanarayanan via Advaita-l <
advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:

> (Around the beginning of the month, a nugget of Wisdom from the Jagadguru
> may be posted
> on the Chaturamnaya list :
> http://lists.advaita-vedanta.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/chaturamnaya )
>
>
> Siva Purana deals extensively with a number of subjects, such as the
> greatness of Bhagavan Paramasiva and his worship,
> the pilgrim centres dedicated to Siva, and stories of his bhaktas or
> devotees.
>
> Among Siva kshetras, Banaras has a special greatness. It is called
> avimukta kshetra. Many sages did upasana on the Lord
> there and attained mukti or salvation. Maharshi Markandeya became immortal
> by the grace and blessings of Lord Siva.
>
> Siva's name is highly auspicious.
>
>   shivanaamani bhaavitentara~Nge mahatijyotiShi maaniniimayaardhe .
>   duritaanyapayaanti duradure muhuraayaanti mahaanti ma~Ngalaani ..
>
>   शिवनामनि भावितेन्तरङ्गे महतिज्योतिषि मानिनीमयार्धे |
>   दुरितान्यपयान्ति दुरदुरे मुहुरायान्ति महान्ति मङ्गलानि ||
>
> Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada says in this sloka that the mere remembrance of
> Siva's name dispels all sins and bestows good.
> Devotees should read the stotras composed by  Sri Sankara. These include
> particularly Sivananda Lahari, Siva Bhujangam
> and Siva Panchakshara stotras.
>
> Among the days specially auspicious for Siva puja, Sivaratri stands out
> most prominently. Sastras declare that if anyone
> keeps awake the whole night and performs Siva puja, he will attain
> salvation.
>
> The bilva leaf is important in Siva puja. The puja done with devotion will
> fulfil all desires of the worshipper.
>
> May all benefit by reading the Siva Purana which extols the greatness of
> the Lord.
>
>   namashshashikalaakoTikalpyamaanaa~Nkurashriye .
>   prapanna janasaMkalpa kalpavR^ikShaaya shambhave ..
>
>   नमश्शशिकलाकोटिकल्प्यमानाङ्कुरश्रिये |
>   प्रपन्न जनसंकल्प कल्पवृक्षाय शम्भवे ||
>
> I bow down to the wish-fulfilling Lord Sambhu who spreads bliss and
> fulfills the desires of those who seek his refuge.
>
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