Chaturmasya Importance

What is Chaturmasya : Chaturmasya is an auspicious four-month period starting from Ashadha Shukla Dashami to Kartika Shukla Paurnima. The months of Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashvina and Kartika fall under this period. These four months are said to be very pleasing to Bhagavan Vishnu. There is an interesting conversation between the Varaha form of Lord Vishnu and Dharani Devi occuring in the Varaha Purana about the significance of this Chaturmasya period. Once Dharani Devi, concerned about the people who take birth in the Kali Yuga who are ignorant, short lived and always afflicted with ailments, approached Lord Varaha and pleaded Him to reveal the method in which even the people of Kali Yuga get great benefits even with very little effort. Sri Varaha smilingly replied There is a 4 month period in a year known as Chaturmasya wherein any Dana, Vrata, Japa and Homa performed brings forth countless merits. Compared to the noble deeds performed during other months, those performed in these holy months, would no doubt, yield multifold benefits.

On hearing this, Dharani Devi asked. O Lord, why among the 12 months only these 4 months are so auspicious? To this Lord Varaha replied In an year, the 6 months beginning from Ashadha are called Dakshinayana. 6 months beginning from Pushya are termed as

Uttarayana. This period of one year for human beings is equivalent to 1 whole day(day/night) for the celestials (Devas). Pushya to Ashadha is the day and Ashadha to Pushya is the night for the Devas. Once, I was sitting on the top of the Meru mountain. At that time, all the celestials approached and said O Lord currently it is night for us. So, we would take leave of you. Then a lady dark in complexion wearing white sparkling clothes holding parashu in her hand came forward, prostrated and spoke to Lord Varaha O Lord, I am ratri who is the abhimanini of this part of the year. I am sad that during this time, no auspicious events like Marriage etc take place. All people dislike me and term be as be ing inauspicious. There is not point in continuing my life like this. I would like to end my life unable to bear this insult. I can only live if you bless me. All the devas also prayed Oh Lord! Kindly show mercy on Ratri whereby she will become happy. Heeding to the prayer of all the Devas Lord Varaha granted boon to Ratri devi. Lord Varaha spoke Oh Ratri, you have three Yamas(1 Yama = 4th part of night or 2 months). Out of these three yamas the first two yamas (4 months i.e Chaturmasya) would henceforth become dearer to me. Any pious deed performed during these two Yamas (Chaturmasya) brings forth immense merits. Among these four months of Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashvina, Kartika, the merits accrued would increase day by day. That is the reason why the last Month, Kartika is most beneficial in all respects. Hearing this, Ratri Devi became very happy and returned to her abode". Lord Varaha continued - "Oh Dharani, that time onwards, this chaturmasya period became very dear to me. I benevolently grant great merits to anyone who performs noble deeds like Snana, Dana, Vrata, Homa, Japa during this period. Chaturmasya is also a period in which Lord Narayana enters into Yoga-Nidra. This does not mean that Lord Narayana sleeps like us mortals. Even, the demigods are called Animishas because they have no sleep. What to speak of Lord

Narayana, the creator of all these demi-gods? Therefore, this is to be understood to be just another playful sport of the Almighty. The Lord is the presiding deity for all the four months with his Sridhara, Hrishikesha, Padmanabha and Damodara forms respectively. This is great opportunity to enhance once spirituality and take a step forward in the direction of Moksha. Our scriptures ordain us to make the following noble ten-fold resolutions during this period. 1. Satsanga 2. Dvijabhakti 3. Guru, Deva, Agni Tarpana 4. Gopradana 5. Vedapatha 6. Satkriya 7. Satyabhashana 8. Gobhakti 9. Dana Bhakti 10. Dharma Sadhana

Anna Dana Among the several danas one can perform during this period, anna dana is greatly praised as the most important dana accruing great merits. Control of senses

Any vrata imposes restrictions on the food that can be partaken. This is for us to reduce our dependence on the This is a great way for achieving control of the senses which is a very important factor in a persons spiritual external material world and realize the inner spiritual power.

development.
The four vratas in Chaturmasya During the four months period, certain food items are prohibited. The respective vrata is named after the item that is prohibited during the month. So, the names of the four vratas are 1. Shaka Vrata 2. Ksheera Vrata 3. Dadhi Vrata 4. Dvidala Vrata

Sankalpa Any vrata gives full fruits if performed with proper Sankalpa. The sankalpa for each vrata should be done at the beginning of each month's vrata. Shaka Vrata Sankalpa (Ashadha Shukla Ekadashi)

Dadhi Vrata Sankalpa (Shravana Shukla Ekadashi)

Ksheera Vrata Sankalpa (Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi)

Dvidala Vrata Sankalpa (Ashvina Shukla Ekadashi)

Samarpana Just as Sankalpa is important at the beginning of the Vrata, Samarpane to Mukhyapranantargata Bhagavan Vishnu should be made for the Vrata to yield proper fruits. Shaka Vrata Samarpana

Dadhi Vrata Samarpana

Ksheera Vrata Samarpana

Dvidala Vrata Samarpana

Who are eligible to do this Chaturmasya Vrata?

This Vrata can be performed by one and all. There is no discrimination based on age/gender/caste/ashrama. Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vyshyas, Shudras, Women, Grihasthas, Sanyasins are all eligible to undertake this vrata.
If one does not undertake this vrata due to ignorance or negligence, he would surely thrown into the hell for a long time. Shaka Vrata(Ashadha-Shukla-Ekadashi to Shravana-Shukla-Dashami): Shaka Vrata, is the first of the four Vratas of Chaturmasya. As the very name indicates, Shaka or any kind of Vegetable and fruit should not be offered to Lord nor should be partaken. The following list gives what can be used during this Vrata 1. All pulses 2. Jeerige 3. Oils 4. Milk/Curds

The following list gives what is not to be used during this Vrata 1. All fruits (incl. mango) 2. All Vegetables 3. All leafy-vegetables, curry-leaves, kotambri 4. Lemons 5. Spices - Cashew, Dry Grapes etc. 6. Tamarind

Dadhi Vrata (Shravana-Shukla-Ekadashi to Bhadrapada-Shukla-Dashami) In this second Vrata curds/yogurt is disallowed. Ksheera vratha (Bhadrapada-Shukla-Ekadashi to Ashvina-Shukla-Dashami) Milk and all its derivatives are disallowed, Dvidala vratha (Ashvina-Shukla-Ekadashi to Kartika-Shukla-Dashami) All pulses, which have two halves like channa, toor, masoor, urad, groundnuts are disallowed..