shravana

Shravana is a month in the traditional Hindu lunisolar calendar as well as the name of one of the 27 nakshatras used in Indian astrology. In the calendar, Shravana is the fifth month, and its exact timing shifts with the lunar cycle, typically overlapping the midsummer into the monsoon season in many regions. The name derives from Sanskrit and is commonly associated with listening or hearing, though in calendrical usage it primarily denotes this period.

Culturally, Shravana coincides with the south Asian rainy season, and many communities observe temple rites, vows, and fasting during the month. Devotional practices often emphasize reverence to major deities such as Vishnu and Shiva, as well as regional gods and local legends. Festivals and rites vary by region and year, with some communities celebrating the Raksha Bandhan festival on the full moon day in Shravana.

In Hindu astrology, Śrāvaṇa is also the name of a nakshatra, one of the 27 lunar mansions used for astrological timing and interpretations. The nakshatra is considered in determining auspicious timings for events and is sometimes reflected in naming conventions. Beyond astrology, Shravana appears in personal and place names in various Indian languages, reflecting its cultural prominence as a seasonal and sacred period.