Sarva PanchangSarva Panchang
Amavasya

Somvati Amavasya

Also called: Soma Amavasya

Somvati Amavasya occurs when the dark moon coincides with Monday, the day dedicated to Chandra and Lord Shiva. By popular tradition, Bhishma explained its importance to Yudhishthira, teaching that bathing in sacred waters on this day clears poverty and brings peace to the ancestors. Married women observe the fast for marital longevity and the protection of their families.

Key facts

Paksha
Krishna Paksha
Lunar month
Occurs whenever Amavasya falls on a Monday
Observed on
Monday (Somwar) coinciding with Amavasya
Deities
Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu (Ashvattha Narayana), Departed Ancestors

The story

Popular lore recounts the story of a virtuous washerwoman named Sona who selflessly shared the merit of her Somvati Amavasya fast to save an innocent young woman from an astrological curse, illustrating that devotion and generosity bring lasting divine protection.

Practices

  • Performing 108 circumambulations (Parikrama) around the sacred Peepal tree (Ashvattha)
  • Offering milk, water, sandalwood, and sweet preparations at the base of the Peepal tree
  • Taking a holy bath in sacred rivers at sunrise
  • Performing ancestral Tarpan with black sesame seeds

Regional variations

  • Mass gatherings at Haridwar, Prayagraj, and Kurukshetra for the Somvati Snan

Common questions

Why is the Peepal tree worshipped on Somvati Amavasya?
The Peepal tree (Ashvattha) is revered as a manifestation of the Trimurti, with Vishnu residing in the trunk, making circumambulation spiritually purifying.

Types of Amavasya