ChaturmAsya vrata

July 3, 2006

Hari Sarvothama, Vayu Jeevothama

Sri Gurubhyo namaha

Source: Sadachara Vinodha by Sri Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya. Published by Sriman Madhwa Siddhantonnahini sabha, TiruchAnoor

The chaturmAsya vrata like Ekadashi & Krishnaashtami (Jayanthi). Vrata is also a compulsory vrata for all people. The period of four months from Ashada Shukla Ekadashi (Ekadashi during the bright half of Ashada- Shayanaikadashi) to Karthika shukla Dwadashi (Dwadashi during the bright half of Karthika- Utthana- Prabodha Dwadashi) is known as ChaturmAsaya. During this period, Mahavishnu remains in yogic sleep (Yoganidra). During this chaturmAsya period, it is the duty of sanyasis to remain in one place. The fact that mAsa also means paksha fortnight (mAso vai pakxaH - Shruti) has been taken into consideration & in due course of time, it has become the tradition in all Madhwa mathas for the sanyasis to observe the vrata for only four pakshas (i.e. two months).

During these four months, it is the prime duty of all- not only sanyasis but people of all ashramas, people of all the four varnas & both men & women to give up the following:

Shaka (Vegetables) & all dishes prepared out of this shaka (During the first month).

Dhadhi (Curds) & all dishes prepared out of this dadhi (During the second month).

Ksheera (milk) & all dishes prepared out of milk. (During the third month).

Dwidala & bahubeeja (dicotyledons & many seeded fruits vegetables & grains) & all dishes prepared out of these. (During the last month).

Shastras proclaim that the non observance of this chaturmAsa spells great ruins for man. If the shaka vrata is not observed, it is as sinful as piercing the Lord with a spear; if the dadhi vrata is not observed, it is equal to consuming beef; if the ksheera vrata is not observed, it is equal to drinking wine & if the dwidala, bahubeeja vrata is not observed, it is equal to eating worms & weevils.

The following four forms of the Lord- Sridhara, Hrishikesha, Padmanabha & Damodara are the presiding forms of the Lord for the four months of ChaturmAsya respectively.

There are special mantras to be recited at the start & at the completion of these vratas. These have to be recited without fail at the appropriate time.

Chowla, investiture, marriage, gruhapravesha, installation of dieties & other such functions should not be performed during chAturmAsya. Any such functions performed during this period will not be considered fruitful.

During this period, those who wish, may give up consuming ghee, salt, betal leaves & several other such items. This bestows special merit.

The chaturmAsya vrata is very essential for getting rid of several diseases & for enjoying robust health. There is no evidence to say that the observance of this vrata leads to ill health; it is only a wrong notion. All the shastras proclaim that this vrata which entails giving up eating tasty dishes as a form of worship to the Lord is the royal road to acquiring right knowledge & earning the four purushArthas in life.

CHATURMASYA MAHIMA/ THE GREATNESS OF CHATURMASYA:

asti priyatamaH kAlashchAturmAsyAbhidho mama |

snAnaM vrataM japo homastatrAnantaguNaM smR^itam.h ||

mAseShvanyeShu yatkiMchit.h kriyate mama toShaNam.h |

tasmAtkoTiguNaM puNyaM mAghe makarage ravau ||

tato.api koTiguNitaM vaishAkhe mAsi labhyate |

tato.apyanantaguNitaM chAturmAsye na saMshayaH || -------varAhapurANaM

The period of chAturmasya is very dear to Sri Hari. Acts like snana, vrata, japa, homa done during this period give immeasurable merit. The merit that accrues to acts done during the month of Magha when the sun is in Makara rasi is a million times more than the merit that comes to acts done during other times; more than this is the merit that accrues to acts done during the month of Vaishaka. But the merit that accrues to acts done during chAturmAsya period is infinitely more than all those; let there be no doubt regarding this.

CHATURMASYA & ITS SPECIALITY:

ASHADhe dashamIM shuklAmArabhya syAttu kartikI |

paurNamAsI tAvadidaM chAturmAsyavratAdikam.h ||

AdyaH syAt.h shrAvaNo mAso nabhasyo.atha dvitIyakaH |

tR^itIyashchAshvino mAsashchaturthaH kArtikaH smR^itiH ||

chAturmAsye.atha puNyasya vR^iddhiH syAccha dine dine |

na kArtikasamAvR^iddhiH puNyasyoktA manIShibhiH || ---------varAhapurANaM

The time between Ashada shukla dasami & kArthika shukla Purnima is the chAturmAsya period. The four months are shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashvija & Karthika. The greatness of chAturmAsya increases day by day. There is no other month as holy as the month of kArthika.

CHATURMASYA VRATA IS COMPULSORY FOR ALL:

nityaM kAryaM cha sarveShAM etad.hvratachatuShTayam.h |

nArIbhishcha narairvApi cha chaturAshramavartibhiH ||

brAhmaNaH xatriyo vaishyaH shriyaH shUdro vratI tathA |

gR^ihI vanasthaH kuTicho bahUdaH paramahaMsakaH ||

narakAnna nivartate tyaktvA vratachatuShTayam.h || ----------skandapurANaM

This vrata is compulsory for all men & women belonging to all the four ashramas---brahmachari, gruhasta, vanaprastha & sanyasaashrama, for people belonging to all varnas ---- brahmamana, kshatriyas, vaishya & shudra & all types of sanyasis like kuteechaka, bahooda & paramahamsa ----each & every person has to observe this vrata. Those who do not observe this vrata can never escape hell.

idam.h vrataM mahApuNyaM sarvapApaharaM shubham.h |

sarvAparAdhashamanaM sarvopadravanAshanam.h ||

sarvairavashyaM kartavyaM chaturAshramavAsibhiH | --------skandapuraNaM

This vrata bestows great merit; it destroys all sin; it is auspicious; it is capable of wiping out all our offences; it is capable of removing all our ills. This vrata has to be observed by people belonging to all four ashramas.

NON OBSERVANCE OF CHATURMASYA VRATA LEADS TO GREAT SIN:

avratena nayedyastu chAturmAsyamanuttamam.h |

sa pApI narakaM yAti yAvadAbhUtasaMplavam.h || -------AdityapurANAM

One who does not observe the chaturmAsya vrata is considered a great sinner & he will have to suffer in hell till the time of total dissolution (pralayakala).

THE PRESIDING FORMS OF THE LORD FOR CHATURMASYA

shrIdharashcha hR^iShIkeshaH padmanAbhastR^itIyakaH |

dAmodaraH kArtikasya chAturmAsye tu devatAH ||

Sridhara, Hrishikesha, Padmanabha & Damodara are the presiding forms of the Lord for the four months respectively.

THE TIME PRESCRIPRED FOR OBSERVING CHATURMASYA VRATA:

ASHADasya site paxe ekAdashyAM samArabhet.h |

kArtikasya site paxe paurNamAsyAM samApayet.h ||

upavAsasvarUpANi vratAnyanyAni saMti vai |

tAni sarvANi vipreMdra prabodhinyAM samApayet.h ||

dvAdashyaM kArayetteShAM homaM brAhmaNapUjanaM |

itarANi cha sarvANi paurNamAsyAM samApayet.h || -----skandapurANaM (vratakAMDa)

The chaturmAsya vrata should be undertaken from Ashada shukla Ekadashi. It should be completed on Karthika shukla Poornima. Only vratas entailing fasts should be completed on Uttana Dwadashi; the corresponding homas & brahmana pujas for these should be completed on this day only; other vratas should be completed on Karthika shukla Purnima.

MARRIAGES PROHIBITED DURING CHATURMASYA:

samastamaMgalAnAM cha devatA cha janArdanaH |

tasmiMstu shayanaM yAte nodvAhAdikriyA bhavet.h ||

chaulopanayane chaiva vivAhAdyaM tyajedbudhaH |

aj~nAnAdyadi kurvaMti mR^itisteShAM na saMshayaH ||

kalyANadevatAdR^iShTihInAnAM cha kutaH sukham.h || -------skandapurANaM

The presiding form of the Lord for all auspicious events is Sri Har. Chowla, Upanayana, Marriage etc., should not be performed when He is sleeping i.e. during chAturmAsya. Those who perform such functions even unwittingly during this period will die; when Sri Hari's auspicious supervision is not there, how is it possible to expect any good?

HOW TO BEGIN CHATURMASYA VRATA:

paMchagavyaM prAshayitvA shuddhiM kR^itvA tanordR^iDham.h |

pUjayitvA yathAnyAyaM devadevaM janArdanaM ||

vratAnAM vaxyamANAnAM saMkalpaM vidhivaccharet.h |

naimittikAnAM kAmyAnaM nityAnAM cha tathaiva cha || ------skandapurANaM

On Ashada Shukla Dashami (after finishing the morning bath & deva puja) one has to partake panchagvya & purify the body. After this, he has to make the sankalpa for the vratas that he is going to observe.

***Panchagavya is a term used to describe five major substances obtained from cowwhich include cow's urine, milk, ghee, curd and dung ***

prathame mAsiM kartavyaM nityaM shAkavrataM shubham.h |

dvitIye mAsi kartavyaM dadhivratamanuttamam.h ||

payovrataM tR^itIye tu chaturthe tu nishAmaya |

dvidalaM bahubIjaM cha varjayechChuddhimichChatA |

nityAnyetAni vipredra ! vratAnyAhurmanIShINaH || ----------skandapurANaM

In the first month Shaka vrata; in the second month Dadhi vrata; in the third month Ksheera vrata; & in the fourth month Dwidala & bahubeeja vrata. These four vratas are compulsory.

THE MEANING OF SHAKA & OTHER VRATAS:

shrAvaNe varjayechChAkaM dadhi bhAdrapade tathA |

xIramAshvayuje mAsi kArtike dvidalaM tyajet.h ||

During the month of Sravana Shaka (shaka vrata); during the month of Bhadrapada curds (during the dadhi vrata buttermilk is allowed though it is made from curds) & all preparations made from curds (dhadhi vrata); during the month of Ashvija milk & all dishes prepared using milk (ksheera vrata) & during the month of Karthika Dwidala (dicotyledons) & Bahubeeja (many seeds) have to be given up.

THE SINS THAT WILL BEFALL IF THIS VRATA IS NOT OBSERVED

yatkiMchit.h bhaxyate shAkaM prathame mAsi nArada |

tenArpitaH hareH shalyaM hR^idi nAtra vichAraNA ||

dvitIye bhaxite dadhni gomAMsam tena bhaxitam.h |

xIre pIte tR^itIye tu surA pItA na saMshayaH ||

chaturthe mAsi vipreMdra dvidale.api cha bhaxite |

kR^imayo bhaxitAstena yAvadutthApanaM hareH || AdityapurANaM

The sin of piercing Sri Hari's heart with a spear will befall those who consume shaka during the shaka vrata; having curds during dadhi vrata is equal to the sin of eating beef; if milk is consumed during the ksheera vrata, it is equal to the sin of drinking wine & other intoxicants & if dicotyledons & many seeded grains are eaten, it is as bad as eating worms.

WHAT IS SHAKA?

mUlapatrakarIrAgraphalakAMDAdhirUDhakAH |

tvak.h puShpaM kavachaM cheti shAkaM dashavidhaM smR^itam.h ||

The term shaka signifies the following ten items --- root, leaf, shoot, tip, fruit, stem, sprout, stalk, flower & skin (it means that these ten items are prohibited during the shaka vrata ).

THE FOUR ARE EXEMTED:

atasI tulasI chaiva dhAtrI chUtaphalaM tathA |

grAhyANyetAni chatvAri viShNunoktaM yataH purA ||

nAnyat.h kiMchit.h samashrIyAt.h bhuktvA chAMdrAyaNaM charet.h || -------AdityapurANaM

Except agasthya, tulasi, gooseberry & mango, all other shaka items are prohibited. By any chance, if they are eaten one has to undertake chandrayana vrata as expiation (of these only dried gooseberry & mango are used).

pUgIphalatAMbUlapatrAderniShedhAbhAvaH | -------ChalArI narasiMhAchAryAH

ArdrakAderlavaNashAkatvena annabhojanasAdhanatve.api tatkAryaH |

shuMThi marIchikAdInAM shAkatvena prasid.hdhyabhAvAt.h na niShedhaH |

(Fresh ginger is not allowed. But dry ginger, pepper can be used.)

evaM nArikelakharjUrAdiShu yatra annasAdhanatvAbhAaH shAkatvena

prasid.hdhya bhAvo vA teShAM shAkavrate bhaxaNaniShedho nAstIti j~neyaM || -----ChalArI narasiMhAchAryAH

Some people also use coconuts & dates.

CHATURMASYA VRATA SANKALPA MANTRAS:

supte tvayi jagannaTha jagatsupthaM bhavedidam.h |vibuddhe cha vibuddha yeta prasanno me bhavAchyuta ||caturo vArShikAnmAsAn.h deva deva jagatpate |nirvighnaM siddhimAyAtu prasAdAttava keshava ||gR^i hIte.asmin.h vrate deva paMchatvaM yadi me bhavet.h |tadA bhavet.h susaMpUrNaM prasAdAtte janArdana ||

SHAKA VRATA SANKALPA (ASHADA SHUKLA DWADASHI)

shAkavrataM mayA deva gR^ihItaM puratastava |

nivighnaM siddhimAyAtu prasAdAtte ramApate ||

SHAKA VRATA SAMARPANA MANTRA:

upAyanamidaM deva vratasaMpUrtihetave |

shAkaM tu dvijavaryAya sahiraNyaM dadAmyaham.h ||

DADHI VRATA SANKALPA (SHRAVANA SHUKLA DWADASHI)

dadhi bhAdrapade mAsi varjayiShye sadA hare |imaM kariShye niyamaM nirvighnaM kuru keshava ||

KSHEERA VRATA SANKALPA (Bhadrapada shukla Dwadashi )

kShIravratamidaM deva gR^ihItaM puratastava|nirvighnaM siddhimAyAtu prasAdAtte ramApate ||

DWIDALA VRATA SANKALPA (ASHVIJA SHUKLA DWADASHI)

kArtike dvidalaM dhAnyaM varjayiShye sadA hare |imaM kariShye niyamaM nivighnaM kuru keshava ||