Chaturmasya

Chaturmasya usually starts from Ashada Shudda Dwadashi and ends on Kartika Shudda dashami. Chaturmasya comprises of Hindu Calender months Ashada, Shravana, Bhadrapada and Karthika.

The eleventh day in Ashada (Shayanaikadashi) , - it is on this day that Srimannaarayana, even though he is sleepless, hungerless, pretends to sleep, which is termed as "Yoga Nidra". He sleeps till Karthika Shudda Dwadashi (Uttana Dwadashi) . The main purpose of observing Chaturmasya is Bhagavad AJnya (Srihari’s Orders). We are doing this to please paramathma only. Observing Chaturmasya gets more punya than what if we do other vrathas. If we perform we get more punya, if not performed, we will get sin.

We are not doing Marriage, Upanayana etc during this Chaturmasya, as Sriman Naaraayana will be on sleep, i.e., Yoganidre., Auspicious functions done during this time due to ignorance, can result in health disorders, injury and other calamities – as per Skanda Purana. Naming ceremony can be done.

Those who are doing shraddha during the Chaturmasya, have to follow the Chaturmasya dharma, on shraddha day, prohibited items not to be used. All Chaturvarnaas, viz.,Brahmana, Kshatriya, Shudra, Vaishya, all should observe Chaturmasya. All Chatur Ashramas viz., Brahmachari, Gruhasta, Vanaprasta and Sanyasi . Even Women irrespective of Rajaswala Period must observe Chaturmasya Vratha.