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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox holiday
|holiday_name = Chaturmas
|type = hindu
|longtype =
|image = Shesh shaiya_Vishnu.jpg
|caption = Vishnu sleeps on the Shesha Shaiya—bed of Shesha.
|official_name =
|nickname =
|observedby =
|begins = [[Shayani Ekadashi]]
|ends = [[Prabodhini Ekadashi]]
|date2016 = 15 July – 10 November
|date2018 = 26July - 19 November
|duration = 4 months
|frequency = annual
|celebrations =
|observances =
|relatedto =
}}

'''Chaturmas''' ({{lang-sa|चातुर्मास}}, Cāturmāsa) is a holy period of four months (July to October), beginning on [[Shayani Ekadashi]]—the eleventh day of the bright half, [[Shukla paksha]], of [[Ashadh]] (fourth month of the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu lunar calendar]])—until [[Prabodhini Ekadashi]], the eleventh day of the bright half of ''[[Kartika (month)|Kartik]]'' (eighth month of the [[Hindu calendar|Hindu lunar calendar]]) in [[Hinduism]].

Chaturmas is reserved for penance, austerities, fasting, bathing in holy rivers and religious observances for all. Devotees resolve to observe some form of vow, be it of silence or abstaining from a favourite food item, or having only a single meal in a day.

==Etymology==
Chaturmas literally means "four months", derived from the [[Sanskrit]] ''catur'' (चतुर्), "four",<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&tinput=four&country_ID=&trans=Translate&direction=AU |title=Spken Sanskrit |access-date=2009-07-06}}</ref> and ''māsa'' (मासः), "month".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spokensanskrit.de/index.php?script=HK&tinput=month&country_ID=&trans=Translate&direction=AU |title=Spoken Sanskrit |access-date=2009-07-06}}</ref>

==Zodiac Interpretation==
The sun enters the [[zodiac]]al sign of [[Cancer (astrology)|Karka]] (Cancer) and begins to move southwards in the month of Ashadh.

==Hinduism==
The eleventh day of Ashadh is called [[Shayani Ekadashi|Devashayani Ekadashi]], because in Hinduism, [[Deva (Hinduism)|Devas]] (demigods) are believed to begin to [[Yoga Nidra|sleep]] on this day. They are believed to wake up on the eleventh of Kartik, hence called [[Prabodhini Ekadashi]].{{citation needed|date=July 2020}} The period corresponds with the [[Climate of India|rainy season]] in India.<ref name="Zelliot">{{cite book |title=The Experience of Hinduism |editor=Eleanor Zelliot, Maxine Berntsen |publisher=SUNY Press |page=335 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7PDr-QF4YmYC&pg=PA207 |isbn=978-0-88706-662-7}}</ref>

It is believed that Devas are at rest during this period and should not be disturbed, so no auspicious ceremonies, such as weddings and [[Upanayana|thread ceremonies]], are held during the four months' period.<ref>{{cite book |last=Bhalla |first=Prem P. |title=Hindu Rites, Rituals, Customs and Traditions |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H31CPCsH-egC&pg=PA293| year=2006 |page=293}}</ref>

===Significance for householders===
Chaturmas, inauspicious for weddings and other celebrations,<ref name="Zelliot"/> is a suitable time for [[Hinduism|householders]] to have an annual renewal of faith by listening to discourses on [[dharma]], and by meditation and [[vrata]] (self-control). Penance, austerities, religious observances, recital of [[mantra]]s, bathing in holy rivers, performing sacrifices, and charity are prescribed. Fasts and purity during this period help maintain health, for which there is likely a scientific rationale, disease spreading more readily with the onset of monsoon.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}

A number of Hindus, particularly those following the Vaishnav tradition, refrain from eating onions and garlic during this period.<ref name="Melton2011">{{cite book |author=J. Gordon Melton |title=Religious Celebrations: L-Z |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KDU30Ae4S4cC&pg=PP2 |year=2011 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-205-0 |pages=172–173}}</ref> In Maharashtra, a number of Hindu families also do not eat any [[egg plant]] (Brinjal / Aubergene) preparations.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

===Significance for Sanyasis===
[[File:chaturmas.jpg|thumb|A Sansyasi performing Vyasa puja as a part of Chaturmas rituals]]
The [[Sanyasi]]s or ascetics observe Chaturmas for four fortnights, beginning on full moon day of the month of Ashadh, also known as [[Guru Purnima]] or Vyas Purnima, and ending on full moon day of the month of [[Bhadrapada]].<ref>''Sampurna Chaturmas'' in Marathi</ref> Sanyasis are supposed to halt during this period at one selected place (Rains Retreat), and give discourses to the public.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

===Celebrations===
Major Celebrations within this holy period include:
* [[Guru Purnima]]
* [[Krishna Janmashtami]]
* [[Raksha Bandhan]]
* [[Ganesh Chaturthi]]
* [[Navratri]] (Dasahra – [[Durga Puja]] – [[Vijayadashami]])
* [[Diwali]]
* Champa Sashthi ([[Margashirsha]] bright 6th ) - Per custom in [[Maharashtra]], Chaturmas ends on this day.

==Jainism==
In Jainism this practice is collectively known as ''Varshayog'' and is prescribed for [[Jain monasticism]].<ref>{{citation |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |title=Facets of Jainology: selected research papers on Jain society, religion, and culture |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2FGSGmP4jNcC&pg=PA139 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=81-7154-839-3 |p=139}}</ref> Wandering monks such as [[mendicant]]s and [[ascetics]] in [[Jainism]], believe that during the rainy season, countless bugs, insects and tiny creatures that cannot be seen in the naked eye take birth massively. Therefore, these monks reduce the amount of harm they do to other creatures so they opt to stay in a single place for the four months to incur minimal harm to other lives. These monks, who generally do not stay in one place for long(59 nights for females, 29 nights for males), observe their annual 'Rains Retreat' during this period, by living in one place during the entire period amidst lay people, observing a [[vow of silence]] ([[Mauna (silence)|mauna]]), meditation, fasting and other austerities, and also giving religious discourses to the local public.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

During the four-month rainy-season period, when the mendicants must stay in one place, the chief ''sadhu'' of every group gives a daily sermon (''pravacana'', ''vyakhyana''), attended mostly by women and older, retired men, but on special days by most of the lay congregation. During their eight months of travel, the ''sadhus'' give sermons whenever requested, most often when they come to a new village or town in their travels.{{sfn|Cort|2001|p=104}}

One of the most important Jain festivals, [[Paryushana]], falls during the beginning of this period, which concludes with Forgiveness Day, ''[[Kshamavani]] Diwas'', wherein lay people and disciples say ''[[Micchami Dukkadam]]'' and ask forgiveness from each other.<ref>{{cite book |last=Roy |first=Christian |title=Traditional festivals: a multicultural encyclopedia, Volume 1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IKqOUfqt4cIC&pg=PA356 |year=2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=1-57607-089-1 |p=356}}</ref> Amongst [[Jain]] merchants, there is a tradition of inviting monks to their respective cities during Chaturmas to give religious instruction.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mehta |first=Makrand |title=Indian merchants and entrepreneurs in historical perspective: with special reference to shroffs of Gujarat, 17th to 19th centuries |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9lz3gNDMbWEC&pg=PA98 |year=1991 |publisher=Academic Foundation |isbn=81-7188-017-7 |p=98}}</ref>

In Jainism, the third part of the classical [[Jain text]] ''[[Kalpasutra (Jainism)|Kalpa Sutra]]'', written by [[Bhadrabahu]] I in the 1st century AD, deals with rules for ascetics and laws during the four months (chaturmas) of the rainy season, when ascetics temporarily abandon their wandering life and settle down amidst the laity. This is the time when the festival of Paryushan is celebrated and the [[Kalpasutra (Jain)|Kalpasutra]] is traditionally recited.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

==Buddhism==
[[Gautama Buddha]] stayed at the royal garden of King [[Bimbisara]] of [[Rajgir]], whom he had recently converted, for the period of Chaturmas and gave sermons: this practice is followed by monks to this day. Another reason for ascetics to stay in one place during the rainy season is that the tropical climate produces a large number of insects, which would be trampled by travelling monks.<
{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}

[[Vassa]] is varsha-vas i.e. three-month annual stay observed by Theravada monks. It begins with [[Asalha Puja]]. At the end of Bassa, during [[Kathina]], new robes are donated by the laity to the monks.

==Notes==
{{reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{citation |last=Cort |first=John E. |author-link=John E. Cort |title=Jains in the World : Religious Values and Ideology in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PZk-4HOMzsoC |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |date=2001 |isbn=0-19-513234-3}}

==External links==
* [http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Photo/3447/3/jain-chaturmas-begins.html Jain Chaturmas begins]

{{HinduFestivals}}
{{Hindu calendar}}
{{Jainism topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hindu festivals]]
[[Category:Vrata]]
[[Category:Jain practices]]
[[Category:Hindi words and phrases]]
[[Category:Religious festivals in India]]

[[Category:July observances]]
[[Category:August observances]]
[[Category:September observances]]
[[Category:October observances]]
[[Category:November observances]]

Chaturmas - Revision history

>JJMC89 bot III at 03:35, 5 May 2021