Chaturmas

About

Chaturmas (= four months) is the period that begins with Devshayani Ekadashi in the Ashadha Shukla paksha and ends with Prabodhini Ekadashi in the Kartik Shukla paksha. It covers the rainy season and early autumn, and roughly corresponds to the Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwin and Kartik months (with the start in late Ashadha).

In tradition, Vishnu rests on the serpent Shesha during this time, so it is called the "sleep" of the Lord. It is a long season of discipline, study and devotion rather than of celebration.

Significance and stories

Chaturmas is a time to slow down. In earlier times travel was hard in the rains, and the retreat gave households and ascetics time for study and worship. Today it is understood as a season for personal discipline.

Many of the great festivals fall in these months, including Guru Purnima, Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, Pitru Paksha, Navratri, Dussehra and Diwali. So Chaturmas is quiet in some ways, but rich in festivals.

How to observe

1. Begin with a sankalpa (= a quiet resolve) on Devshayani Ekadashi to keep a small discipline for the four months.
2. Choose one or two restraints, such as giving up one favourite food, rising early, or avoiding evening snacks.
3. Add one positive practice, such as daily japa, reading a chapter of the Gita or Bhagavatam, or lighting a lamp each evening.
4. Keep the Ekadashi fasts and other vrats through the period.
5. Give charity regularly.
6. On Prabodhini Ekadashi, end the Chaturmas with a puja, the Tulsi Vivah if your family keeps it, and a meal.

Fasting and food

Common food disciplines, which vary by month and family, include avoiding certain items. Traditions often mention leafy greens in Shravana, curd and yoghurt in Bhadrapada, milk in Ashwin, and lentils or onion and garlic in Kartik. Many families avoid onion, garlic and non-vegetarian food throughout. Some give up one meal or a favourite food. Choose a discipline that you can keep.

People with health conditions, pregnant or nursing women, children and the elderly should follow their doctor's advice and may keep a lighter observance.

Restrictions on ceremonies

Weddings, upanayana, griha pravesh and other auspicious ceremonies are traditionally not held during Chaturmas, since Vishnu is considered to be asleep. These return after Prabodhini Ekadashi, which begins the wedding season. Daily worship, festivals and vrats continue as usual. Some regions allow certain rites; follow your family's custom or your priest's guidance.

Jain and Vaishnava perspective

In Jain tradition Chaturmas is the season when monks and nuns stay in one place instead of travelling, to avoid harming the many small creatures that appear in the rains. Lay Jains increase their fasts, study and charity, and Paryushan falls in this period. The Jain period is counted by a slightly different calendar from the Vaishnava one.

In Vaishnava tradition devotees take special vows (niyama) on food, speech and service, recite the Bhagavatam, and some sampradayas hold Chaturmas retreats with their gurus. Some saints stay in one place and give discourses through the season.

Regional customs

In Maharashtra the Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage to Pandharpur opens the season. In Karnataka and Gujarat, women often keep Chaturmas vows for the entire period. Some Shaiva and Shakta families keep their own observances in these months. Traditions vary; follow your family's custom or your priest's guidance.

Celebrating in the USA

Chaturmas gives families a reason to adopt a simple year-round routine: a daily lamp, a short reading, and a food discipline that suits a busy workplace. Weddings in the USA are often booked well ahead, so check the dates with your priest if your family avoids these months. Many temples run scripture readings and discourses through the season.