What is Cāturmāsa?

the four holy months of the monsoon, from Devśayanī Ekādaśī to Prabodhinī (Devuthanī) Ekādaśī, kept for devotion and restraint.

Cāturmāsa means “four months”. It begins on Devśayanī (Śayana) Ekādaśī in Āṣāḍha, when tradition says Viṣṇu goes into yogic sleep on the serpent Śeṣa, and ends on Prabodhinī Ekādaśī in Kārtika, when he awakens. Tulasī Vivāha is celebrated around the awakening.

In these months, sannyāsīs traditionally stop wandering and stay in one place, teaching and practising. Householders often take a small vow for the season: giving up a particular food, eating once a day, extra japa or daily scripture reading. Many communities avoid certain foods in particular months, such as leafy greens in Śrāvaṇa. In much of North India weddings and housewarmings are not held in Cāturmāsa, while some regions are less strict.

There is a practical wisdom too: the monsoon brings illness and travel difficulty, so a quieter, simpler, more inward life suits the season. Choose a vow you can keep with joy.

Source: Padma Purāṇa; Skanda Purāṇa · Āṣāḍha to Kārtika Ekādaśī

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