Chaturmas Vrata, or Chatur Mas Vrat, is observed for a period of four months and it begins from the Deva Sayana Ekadasi in Ashada month and ends on Utthana Ekadasi in Kartik Month. In 2012, Chaturmas Vrat begins on June 30 and ends on November 24. The four months of Shravan, Bhadrapad, Ashwina and Kartik are considered as the holiest months in the Hindi calendar. Different types of vows and Vratas are observed by Hindus during this period.
Many people avoid non-vegetarian food during the four month period. Some people observe flexible fasting – eating just one meal or two, or just one meal on particular days in the month. Certain food items like jaggery or oil is avoided during the period or in any one of the four months. Some people avoid salty and sweet preparations. Those people who plan to undertake serious vows and fasting avoid garlic and onion as it can stimulate unnecessary excitements.
There are no hard and fast rules regarding the Chaturmas Vrata. It is often left to the devotee to decide how he/she wants to spend the four months.
Most people decided to read the Mahabharata or Ramayana or Gita or Bhagavad Purana during the fourth month period. Some people make it a point to visit temples daily and indulge in spiritual activities.
The four months is of great importance to Lord Vishnu devotees as this period is believed to be the night of Vishnu. Vishnu devotees listen to his stories and spend time in helping the poor and in cleaning and maintaining Vishnu temples.
Shravan month is of great importance to Lord Shiva devotees. The Mondays in the month are highly auspicious.
Importance is given to maintaining a healthy body during the four months, as the first two months are the peak monsoon season. Due to this reason, in some regions people avoid green leafy vegetables in the Shravan month. Curd, or yoghurt, is avoided in Bhadrapad month. Milk is avoided in Ashwin month. Pulses are avoided in Kartik month. Again there are no strict codes regarding food. It all depends on the person how he/she wants to observe the Chaturmas Vrat.
7 comments:
I believe that taking the vrats: gauri, chaturmas, ektani, etc. are HIGHLY important. It will decide if you will go to Akshardham or not. If you break a rule while doing a vrat, immediately ask for forgiveness in front of a God. I belive you should follow any vrat you can, whether you are a Buddhist, Jain, Christian, Muslim, or Hindu! Just try it!
Shree Hari daas,
observing Chaturmaas alone, does not dictate whether one attain's the Lord's holy abode. What is of high importance, is choosing a niyam/daily vow that will bring you closer to God. Be it reading scriptures, chanting the holy name, visiting mandir regularly etc. The vows to obstain from certain food types (esp the one's you enjoy eating) shows God you are capable of giving up things you desire for Him. Vrats such as Dharana Parana and ektana show discipline to the body. As long as you can keep up with bhakti these things are good.
Good luck in whatever niyam you take and if you cant take it for the entire 4 months, try your best to take for the holy month of Shravan...the benediction (punya) attained for doing just vows in this month are ten fold compared to regular days.
Shree Hari
Das
Hi I have been observing this fast for a few years now, and have given up food i like instead of what is written above, ie cheese, crisps and chocolate, i gave it up for the full four month, does this count as a form of fast?
chatur mash is the vrata that every hindu should have in right way ,the whay he/she can do. its duty towards lord krishna who have given us the birth of human mercying on us foreging our deeds. and after perfoming it we can feel that we have made our life meaningful .so do something truly for your soul and let your journy towards lord of all creatures .in short .
Abilash, please don't say "there is no hard and fast rules" when you write about Ekadasi or Chaturmasa Vratha. Indeed there are rules and procedures clearly laid down in our Shastras, and you will agree what is said there and by our elders certainly makes sense. We the common people should try our best to follow them. Just because we cannot understand the reason behind them, we should not find escape routes.
Hence I request you again to not give any waiver clause in your posts in public forum. No one even the great Swamijis are not authorized to suggest any waiver mechanism to what has been said in our great Shastras and Puranas. Hope you understand my intention here.
The Chaturmasa vratam is the most flexible vrata according to health needs of the individual.
Some divine people practice the same all their life including Chaturmasa vratam.
There are no restrictions for this divine vratam.
As Anand rightly pointed out, like Ekadasi, Chatur masa is also a vrata that SHOULD BE followed by one and all. If we are not following that is purely our mistake.
Towards the end you have also rightly given which are to be AVOIDED in these 4 months. Readers should try to follow this vrat.
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