Shravan

Shravan Kumar's parents, Shantanu and Malaya, were hermits. Having become quite aged, they therefore wanted him to take them to the four places of pilgrimage. It is a typical Hindu belief that a pilgrimage to the various shrines and holy places, undertaken in old age, purifies the soul. At the time, transport was scarce and costly, and Shravan Kumar could not afford it. He decided to put each parent in a basket and tie each to an end of a bamboo pole, which he would shoulder while on their pilgrimage.

According to Punjabi folklore Shravan's mother was distantly related to King Dhashrath as his sister.

The blind hermit and his wife mourn their son, who was slain accidentally by Dasaratha

Dasharatha cremates Shravana and his Parents, painting by Laharu of Chamba

According to the legend in Ramayana, while hunting in the forest of Ayodhya, then-Prince Dashratha heard a sound near a lake and unleashed an arrow, hoping to hit an animal. When he crossed the lake to collect his kill, he found that his arrow had fatally struck a teenage boy who was bleeding. The injured boy was Shravan, who then told Dasaratha he had come to the lake to collect water for his sick and aged parents, who were both blind and whom he had been carrying on a sling. With his dying breath, Shravan requested Dashratha to take water to his parents and to tell them what happened. Shravan then succumbed to his wounds and when Dasaratha took water for his parents and told them of his tragic mistake, they were unable to bear the shock. Despite acknowledging that it was an accident, they cursed Dasaratha that he too would experience "Putrashoka" (Sanskrit, "putra" is child/son and "shoka" is grief; grief due to loss of a son).[1] A curse which turned out to be true when he had to suffer the departure of his most beloved and able son Rama who had to be exiled at his own orders (it was actually his beloved wife's wish that could not be ignored since he had himself promised her a boon years back when she had saved his life). So he did it unwillingly.

Local tradition holds that the place where Shravan died was named Sarvan (Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh). The spot where Dashratha shot his arrow came to be known as Sarwara and the place where Shravan's parents died is called Samadha. An old and rough memorial for Shravan on the banks of the lake is now withering away. Some people believe that Sravan kumar was killed in Nepal now lies at Syangja district near Syangja. Sarvan khunda is still there and origin of Adhikhola river is from the Sarvan kumar khunda. People around the Syangja and Walling believe that Adhikhola river is a tear of Sarvan parents.[1]

Mukhed in Maharashtra has a samadhi (shrine) dedicated to the story of Shravana.[2]