Chaturmasya Vrat is a unique and a glorious tradition that grants us the opportunity to progress more in our spiritual lives. In this period, the devotees increase their devotional activities and austerities to please the Supreme Lord.  The main purpose of Charturmasya Vrat among devotees and other followers of Vedic tradition is to increase their intensity of devotional services and minimise their sense of gratification.

 

Read this article to understand about Chaturmasya in detail.

Overview

“Chatur” means four, and “Masya” means month. Chaturmasya is the auspicious four-month-long period that begins on the day after Deva Shayan Ekadashi in the month of Ashada (June-July) and ends on the Uthana Ekadashi in the Karthik month (October-November). As per the Vedic calendar, the months of Shravana, Bhadrapda, Ashwina and Kartika fall under this period. These months also coincide with the monsoon season in India.

 

These four months are dedicated to practising devotional services, performing austerities, fasting, abstaining from specific foods and maintaining a regulated lifestyle.

About Chaturmasya

Chaturmasya is believed to be the day when Lord Vishnu enters the state of yog nidra (divine sleep) in the Khsir Sagar (the ocean of milk) on His serpent Shesh Naga. Since Lord Vishnu, the protector of this universe, retires for His sleep, this day is called Shayan (sleep) Ekadashi (eleventh day). Lord Vishnu awakens from His deep yogic sleep after four months on Uthana Ekadashi in the Karthik month. 

 

In Chaturmasya, devotees, monks and saints avoid any type of journey and take shelter in one place, ideally in a place of pilgrimage and perform austerities there. This also allows local inhabitants and seekers of knowledge to gain their association and make swift progress in their spiritual lives.

 

ei-mata mahāprabhu bhakta-gaṇa-saṅge

cāturmāsya goṅāilā kṛṣṇa-kathā-raṅge

 

“Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu spent the entire period of Cāturmāsya [the four months of the rainy season] in the happiness of discussing topics of Kṛṣṇa with His devotees.” (from CC Antya 10.133)

 

This time span is also considered the most suitable to increase your devotional services to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Apart from fasting, the  Chaturmasya is the ideal time to perform charity, practice gratitude, and meditate. During this time span, rituals, such as wedding ceremonies, engagements, buying land, Grih Pravesh (housewarming), tonsuring, and Janeu Sanskar, are restricted. 

Fasting in Chaturmasya

Let’s understand the different food items that are avoided to be consumed in the Chaturmasya:

 

  1. First Month (Shravana): Green leafy vegetables (Shaka), such as spinach, fenugreek, coriander, mint, etc., are avoided. Fasting in the first month of Chaturmasya is also known as Shaka Vrata.
  2. Second Month (Bhadra): Yogurt and meals that have yogurt as the main ingredient should not be consumed, such as kadi, lassi, buttermilk etc. 
  3. Third Month (Ashwin): Milk is avoided in the third month of Chaturmasya, popularly known as Ksheera Vrata. It includes every food item made from milk, such as sweets (Milk cake, Rasagulla, Peda), ice cream, paneer, cheese, lassi etc. 
  4. Fourth Month (Karthik): During the last month of Chaturmasya, also known as Dwidala Vrata, a high-protein diet is restricted, especially the protein-rich Urad dal. Indian cuisines use urad dal in a variety of preparations such as idlis, dosa, fritters, etc. Fermented food should also be avoided.

Routine in Chaturmasya

  • Wake up before sunrise.
  • Follow celibacy (Brahmacharya).
  • Engage yourself in devotional service, charity and spiritual activities.
  • Perform daily prayers, chant the holy names of the Lord, and always remember Lord Krishna.
  • Read spiritual texts such as Srimad Bhagavatam.
  • Listen to prayers and spiritual discourses.

 

Benefits of Chaturmasya Vrat

In one of the lectures in Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada explains the importance of Chaturmasya, referring from the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.28: Narada’s Instruction on Srimad-Bhagavatam for Vyasadeva-

 

itthaṁ śarat-prāvṛṣikāv ṛtū harer

viśṛṇvato me 'nusavaṁ yaśo 'malam

saṅkīrtyamānaṁ munibhir mahātmabhir

bhaktiḥ pravṛttātma-rajas-tamopahā

 

Translation: Thus, during two seasons -the rainy season and autumn, I had the opportunity to hear these great-souled sages constantly chant the unadulterated glories of the Lord Hari. As the flow of my devotional service began, the coverings of the modes of passion and ignorance vanished. 

 

Narada Muni explains this verse, “If, by the grace of the Lord and the great-souled devotees of the Lord, a living being becomes fortunate enough to associate with the unadulterated devotees of the Lord and gets a chance to hear the unadulterated glories of the Lord, certainly the flow of devotional service takes place like the flow of a river. As the river flows on till she reaches the sea, similarly pure devotional service flows by the association of pure devotees till it reaches the ultimate goal, namely, transcendental love of God. Simply by hearing from the realized souls, munibhir mahātmabhiḥ, for four months during their stay in the cāturmāsya period, gradually I developed my Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and then I began devotional service."

 

Following the Chaturmasya Vrata bestows immense benefits as one can please the Supreme Lord easily and attain His divine blessings.