Concept & Significance of CHATURMASAM

Bharatha Khanda (Indian sub continent) is known as Karma

Bhoomi which is unique with its significance for Vedic and
religious culture and heritage. It is believed and said that one
has to take birth in this sub continent to attain ultimate
salvation of the soul through human form and by performing
austerities that pleases the Almighty God. One such austerity
that is prescribed as a tool for attaining spiritual path for the
ultimate salvation of the soul is observing of Chaturmasya
Vratha which has been given lot of spiritual and religious
significance.Hindu philosophy and religion which is a
combination of many traditions and cultures is closely
associated with the Nature that plays a major role in
performance of many festivals and sacred rituals. Hinduism
strongly believes in Puranas and Vedic principles that become
the guiding factor for performance of these festivals and
rituals.

What is Chaturmasam? When does it occur?

In simple terminology Chatur means four. Masa means
Month. Vratha means religious observance. Chaturmasa
Vratha means observance of religious austerities for a period
of four months. Chaturmasam is an auspicious four-month
period that occurs every year starting from Aashada Sukla
Ekadasi to Karthika Sukla Ekadasi. While it starts from
Aashada Sukla Ekadasi for Grihasthas and others, for Yatis
(Ascetics) it starts from Aashada Sukla Pournima. The months
of Sravana, Bhadrapada, Aaswayuja and Karthika fall under
this period. The period of Chaturmasam coincides with the
monsoon season when important Hindu festivals also take
place during this period. Chaturmasya is also a period when
Lord Sri Man Narayana enters into Yoga-Nidra. This does not
mean that Lord Sri Man Narayana sleeps like us mortals.
Even, the demi-gods are called Animishas because they have
no sleep. SriVishnu Sahasranama (sloka-23) describes Lord
Vishnu as Animisha, means the one who is ever awake, ever
alert, and ever vigilant. He is the wisest of all.

One may get a doubt that when we have 12 months in a year
why only these selected four months are called Chaturmasa?

In this regard there is an interesting pouranic reference to
Chaturmasam.In Varaha Purana Lord Varaha (Avathara of
Lord Sri Man Narayana) had explained Goddess Earth
(Dharani Devi) the significance of Chaturmasam to be
observed during the months of Sravana, Bhadrapada,
Aaswayuja and Karthika. We all know that we have 12
months in a lunar calendar starting from Chaitra to
Phalguna. Out of these 12 months 6 months starting from
Pushya (when Sun enters Makara Raasi) to Jyesta falls under
Uttarayana while 6 months starting from Aashada (when Sun
enters the Karkataka Raasi) to Margasira falls under
Dakshinayana. Uttarayana is the day time and
Dakshinayana is the night time for Devathas.As per the time
element one year for human beings is equivalent to one full
day for devathas (Day/night). Similarly one month for human
beings is equivalent to 1 day for Pitru Devathas out of which
Sukla Paksha (waxing moon days) 15 days is day time and
Krishna Paksha (waning moon days) 15days is the night time
for Pitrus.In order to give significance and importance for
performing sacred and pious deeds during night time of
Devathas, Lord Varaha gave a boon to Rathri Devatha that,
these four months (Sravana, Bhadrapada, Aaswayuja and
Karthika) are very holy and dear to him. Whoever performs
sacred deeds (Snana, Japa, Homa, Vratha, Dana etc.) during
these months would reap immense benefits out of it. The
merits of performing sacred deeds would increase day by day
during these four months and when it comes to Kartheeka
Masa it is the most holy and sacred of all the four months.
Incidentally major religious festivals including Pitru Paksha
fall during these months of Chaturmasam.These four months
are said to be very dear and pleasing to Lord Sri MahaVishnu
when He enters into Yoga Nidra (Divine slumber) on
Aashada Sukla Ekadasi day called Deva Sayani or Hari
Sayani Ekadasi. He gets up from Yoga Nidra on Kartheeka
Sukla Dwadasi day called Uttana Dwadasi. Thus, when the
Lord Sri Man Narayana is in yoga-nidra it is befitting for us
to set aside our mundane activities and participate in special
religious pursuits. There are four spiritually important
months in a year known as Aashada, Kartheeka, Maagha and
Vaisakha. To begin with, Aashada Maasa, when the rains will
start afresh and a number of creatures (living beings) will
sprout on the earth. This month is said to be the appropriate
period for sprouting of spiritual knowledge in the minds of
human beings.
Significance of Chaturmasam
Lord Sri ManNarayana is the presiding deity for all the four
months of Chaturmasam with his Sridhara, Hrishikesha,
Padmanabha and Damodara forms respectively. This is a
Great opportunity to enhance ones spirituality
and take a step forward in the direction of ultimate salvation.
The four months of Chaturmasam is of great importance to
the devotees of Lord Vishnu. During this period people take
different vows and resort to religious and spiritual austerities
to please the Lord. It is said that observing Chaturmasya
confers a crore times more meritsthan observing rituals
during other months. To have a darshan of an Ascetic (Yati)
who is observing Chaturmasa is also said to be very beneficial.
So, one should make a sincere effort to visit an ascetic who is
observing Chaturmasa and get his blessings. Health is also
given lot of significance and importance during these four
months. It is said that Lord Sri Krishna had explained the
significance of Chaturmasam to Yudhistira (Dharma Raja).
Skandha Purana also refers to the significance of
Chaturmasam and benefits from observing austerities during
this period.

Chaturmasa Vratha

Tapta Mudra Dharana during Chaturmasam

Chaturmasya Vratha begins with Tapta Mudra Dharana. On
Aashada suklaEkadasi (Sayani Ekadasi) day one should get
Tapta-Mudra-Dharana from their respective religious Gurus.
This refers to the act of getting the divine symbols stamped on
ones body.
It is said that people not accepting Tapta-Mudra-Dharana are
not eligible for performing the duties prescribed for the min
Vedas and other authored scriptures. If this is not possible for
reasons beyond human control, then one should strive to
accept Tapta-Mudra-Dharana at least once during the
Chaturmasya. This ritual we find being observed mostly in
Madhwa Sampradaya.

Who are eligible to observe Chaturmasa Vratha?

Without any discrimination of age, gender, caste, and asrama
this vratha can be performed by one and all. That is
Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vysyas, Sudras, Women, Grihasthas;
Sanyasis are all eligible to undertake this vratha. There is no
exception whatsoever; the vratha is applicable to people
belonging to all the four varnas (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vysya
and Sudra) as well as all the four Asramas (brahmachari,
gruhastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa).

Details of Vratha

Vratha means a niyama or a restriction. Any vratha imposes
restrictions on the food that can be partaken. This is for us to
reduce our dependence on the external material world and
realize the inner spiritual power. This is a great way for
achieving control of the senses which is a very important
factor in a persons spiritual development. During the four
months period, certain food items are prohibited. The
respective Vratha is named after the item that is prohibited
during the month. So, the names of the four Vrathas are

Saaka Vratha, Ksheera Vratha, Dadhi Vratha, and Dvidala
Vratha.

Any vratha gives full fruits when it is performed with proper
Sankalpa. Hence, sankalpa for each vratha should be
performed at the beginning of each vratha.

Saaka vratha

The period for observing Saaka vratha is from Aashada sukla
Ekadasi to Sravana sukla Dasami. Saaka Vratha is the first of
the four Vrathas of Chaturmasya. As the very name indicates,
Saaka or any kind of Vegetable and fruit should not be offered
to the Lord nor should be partaken. Examples are all fruits, all
vegetables, all leafy vegetables, curry leaves; coriander,
chillies, tamarind, lemons, spices, cashew, dry grapes etc. are
prohibited from using. Instead of tamarind dry mango power
is used and instead of chillies pepper is used.

Dadhi Vratha

This should be observed from Sravana sukla Ekadasi to
Bhadrapada suklaDasami. During this period, curd (yoghurt)
should not be used in any formor manner. However,
buttermilk a derivative of curd is allowed.

Ksheera Vratha

This should be observed from Bhadrapada sukla Ekadasi to
Aaswayuja suklaDasami. During this period, milk should not
be used in any form or manner. This restriction includes milk
derivatives like cream of milk, cheese or other dairy products,
but excludes curd or yoghurt.

Dvidala Vratha

This should be observed from Aaswayuja sukla Ekadasi to
Kartheeka suklaDasami. During this period, one should avoid
dvidalas and bahu-beejavegetables. Dvidala refers to any seed
or vegetable which when broken or fried splits into two halves.
Examples of such items are coconuts, groundnuts, split channa
dal, batani (green peas), toor dal, Masoor Dal, Urad
dal,Moong Dal, Kadale (channa dal/Bengal gram) and so on.
Bahu-beeja refersto any fruit or vegetable that contains
multiple seeds and is covered by an

External skin. Examples of such items are apples, grapes,
pomegranate, Cucumber and so on.

Austerities that can be observed during Chaturmasam

It is said that during Chaturmasam one should make noble
resolutions(sankalpa) like Satsanga, Dvijabhakti, Veda
Patana, Sathya Bhashana,Dharma Sadhana, Satkriya, Go-
Bhakti, Tarpana (Guru, Deva, and Agni),Dana Bhakti.
Among the several Danas one can perform during this
period,Anna Dana is given lot of significance that accrues
great merits. In addition, one can also perform certain
optional rituals during this period like,

Fasting

Among the austerities fasting is given lot of significance and
importance during Chaturmasam. According to ones
capability, health, and will power one may choose the type of
fasting. It could be, Fasting on all the Ekadasi Days during
Chaturmasam Fasting on one day and eating on the next day
for targeted number of days say a month (Dharana
Parana)Eating only one time in a day Fasting continuously
for five days starting from Ekadasi

Lakshavarti:

Preparing one lakh cotton wicks and lighting lamps with it for
the Lord.

Laksha-pradakshina:

Going around an icon or idol in a temple one lakh times.

Go Padma Vratha:

Drawing of 33# Ghopadmas with rangoli powder and
performing 33 rounds of pradakshina Nama Kara around the
Ghopadmas.

Other simple austerities that can be implemented

Reciting Vishnu Sahasra Nama Sthothram, Vayu Sthuthi,
Hanuman Chaleesa, and Sri Raghavendra Sthothra etc. with
a targeted number. Reciting Gayathri Manthra daily with a
targeted number.Observing Mouna vratham during a specific
time in a day for a targeted number of days. (one should be
absolutely in tranquil state without even making
gestures)Writing of Rama Koti (Rama Nama) daily targeted
number of times. Parayana or Sravana of sacred books like
Bhagavatha Purana, BhagavathGeetha, Vishnu Purna,
Sundara Kanda etc.All the above austerities should be started
from Aashada Sukla Ekadasi continued up to Kartheeka
Sukla Dwadasi. The vratha requires the follower to be
engaged in spiritual pursuits, such as study of the scriptures,
worship and service to God, generosity, and avoiding
discussion on materialistic to pics etc. The main purpose of all
Vrathas or rituals is ultimately to please the Lord the benefits
of which are bountiful. At the end of the day one should
understand the significance of Chaturmasa and what vow to
take is a choice of an individual. As long as the vow is to
perform a sacred and pious act it would definitely yield
positive results and would bring pleasing rewards. Vrathas
and austerities go a long way in developing this mind-frame.
It is also believed that they generate a lot of positive energy
that helps one in the struggle of life. Control over wandering
mind and discipline of life does a lot of good to the physical as
well as the mental abilities of an individual.

Prohibited activities and items during Chaturmasa:

Hair cutting, shaving, nail cutting, participating in sensual
pleasures, sleeping on the bed are prohibited. Among
prohibited items are, Sugarcane, Urad, Horse Gram, White
mustard, Pumpkin, Water Melon, Brinjal, Radish, Snake
Guard, Onion, Garlic, Non-vegetarian food.

Yati Chaturmasa

During Chaturmasam Hindu monks (Yeteeshwaras)
undertake Deeksha and stay at one place (otherwise required
to travel) from Aashada Sukla Pournima to Bhadrapada
Sukla Pournima for four fortnights and impart spiritual
knowledge to those devotees who come to visit them there by,
inculcating spiritual awareness in them. This is called
Yateeshwara Chaturmasa Deeksha. The significance of
starting the Deeksha on Aashada Pournima (Guru Pournima)
is, perhaps the day is celebrated as the Avatara day of the
great sage Veda Vyasa an incarnation of Lord Sri Maha
Vishnu. Although, the word Chaturmasya means four months
duration, now a days it is performed for two months only,
taking a fortnight as a month as per Shastras. Such Ascetics
suspend their travel at the beginning of Chaturmasa and
during that period, they do not cross the border of the city
where they are so journing. The learned Yateeswaras engage
themselves in teaching and offering discourses for the benefit
of their disciples and people in general. It is believed and said
that the place where these self less Yateeswaras stay and
perform Chaturmasa Deeksha will flourish in wealth,
prosperity and spiritual life. Having Darshan of Yateeshwara
during Chaturmasa is considered to be very efficacious and
meritorious. It is also our tradition to receive blessings of such
Ascetics who observe Chaturmasa in a fervent manner for the
benefit of the society.

Seemollanghana:

At the end of Bhadrapada Pournima the Ascetics
(Yateeswaras) break their sojourn by crossing the border of
that city and move on to a nearby holy place and complete
Chaturmasya Vratha. This is called Seemollanghana.Seema
means border and ullanghana means violating
(crossing).Seemollanghana is also prescribed for general public
which they will generally do it on Vijaya Dasami Day
(Dussera day) by symbolically visiting Sami Vriksha outside
the town border where they live.

Festivals during Chaturmasam

The most prominent ones amongst the festivals that fall
during Chaturmasam are Guru Pournima or Vyasa
Pournima, Naga Chaturthi, Vara Maha Lakshmi Vratha,
Upakarma (Sravana Pournima), Sri Krishnashtami,
SriGanesha Chaturthi Rishi Panchami, Sri Anantha
Chaturdasi, Sharan Navarathri (Devi Navarathri),
Vijayadasami, Deepavali. Apart from this the world famous
Jagannath Ratha Yathra (Car festival) at Purushothama
Kshetra (Puri) takes place around this time. Sri
VenkateswaraSwamy Brahmostavam at Tirumala hills also
takes place during Chaturmasam in the month of Aaswayuja.




Celestial Events and Aaradhanas during Chaturmasam

Dakshinayana (transit of Sun into Karkataka Raasi) also
called as Karkataka Sankramana occurs around
Chaturmasam. Aaradhanas of the following great Saints
(ascetics) also falls within the Chaturmasya period viz

Sri JayaTheertharu also known as TeekaRayaru (Malakheda),
Sri RaghavendraSwamy (Mantralayam), Sri Jagannatha
Dasara Punya divasa (Manvi), and Sri Vijaya Dasara Punya
Divasa (Chippagiri)

Pitru Yagna during Chaturmasam

Pitru Paksha, the fortnight dedicated to forefathers also falls
during Chaturmasam only including Mahalaya Amavasya
when, we pay our obeisance to our fore fathers by performing
sacred rites. Thus the entire Chaturmasam is a period full of
festivals and celebrations out of which majority are religious
(pouranic) festivals. It signifies that Chaturmasam is the time
for us to pay our obeisance to the Deities, Saints (Gurus), and
Pitrus (Forefathers). Having taken birth as a human being
one has to get discharged mainly from the three types of rinas,
(Deva, Rishi, and Pithru) and perhaps Chaturmasam is the
best period to do so even though it has to be done on a daily
basis.

Apart from these, social festivals like Independence Day,
Teachers Day, Gandhi Jayanthi, also occurs during
Chaturmasam making us to remember the country (Mathru
Bhoomi) and also our teachers who have taught us the vidya.


Significance of food restrictions during Chaturmasam

A healthy body is a healthy mind.

One of the important factors responsible for the well being of
the body and mind is the nature of food that one consumes
daily. It is said that ultimate salvation is possible only through
human form and unless this human body which covers the
soul is healthy, noble thoughts cannot emerge from the mind.
In fact purity of the mind and body go together and
complement each other. Not only the health but also our mind
(mentality) depends on the type of food we take. Foods and
vegetables we take can be classified in to three types viz


Sattvik-- one which produces good, pious qualities

Rajasik-- one which induces passion anger etc (hot/ spicy/sour
foods)

Tamasik-one which is stale, intoxicating, unhygienic
(fast/junk foods, hot drinks etc) Food discipline during
Chaturmasya is to gain control over our senses and there by
purify our body and mind. According to 'Skandha Purana'
fasting on Ekadasi serves as a preventive medicine. This is of
most relevance during Chaturmasa the monsoon period. At
this time maximum fasting is done because the weather is not
conducive to digestion and the quality of available food also
degenerates as a result of the climate. Medical science is
conducting lot of research on fasting and we are hearing lot of
positive results in this respect. Generally monsoon days are
not healthy days in our country. Where river water is used
for drinking, it becomes turbid and this new water is likely get
contaminated causing aberration in health. Hence,
observance of fast counter acts these unhealthy conditions and
helps the people to maintain their health. During the period of
pre-monsoon season the leafy vegetables tend to rot. Due to
lack of sunlight the vegetables will get infected. Further at
times due to heavy rains the vegetables cannot be stored
properly. During the rainy season due to continuous rains the
human body is susceptible to cold, fever, viral infections and
digestive disorders. Hence, only vegetables and grains suited
to the climate are recommended. Observance of Chaturmasya
vratha helps in getting rid of many health problems thereby
one can enjoy good health.

One may wonder how these foods can be prepared during
Chaturmasam without including vegetable, pulse, mustard,
chilies etc. In this speedy and mechanical life, traditional way
of cooking and preparation of food is waning away. Only those
following the orthodox system are still holding it alive and
hats off to those home makers (Ladies) who are making it
possible with their will power. Even though the living
conditions have changed over a period of time with the
advancement of technology, the applicability of Vedic
disciplines for the body and mind cannot be dispensed with
and they are applicable even today. It is proved beyond doubt
that our ancestors followed these principles strictly and
maintained sound health. Moreover in these hard days
of economy when the prices of vegetables and food grains are
shooting up, one should look for alternatives. Food restriction
during Chaturmasam is an attempt in this regard and
perhaps natures solution of maintaining a balance in home
economy without compromising for health both mental and
physical and to achieve the same in a spiritual way. For a
healthy body and healthy mind one should adapt to Sattvik
food habits and food restrictions during Chaturmasam is the
quintessence of it.