Chaturmasa - The four months Significance

Chaturmasa

                       Chaturmasa starts from Ashada Shudda Dwadashi (The day after tholi ekadasi) and ends on Kartika Shudda dashami.  Chaturmasa comprises of the following months:

• Ashada Masam
• Shravana Masam
• Bhadrapada Masam and 
• Karthika Masam. 

Religious Significance:

                       It is believed that Lord Vishnu goes on Yoga Nidra for four months.

During these four months, there are many vrathas and fasts that are followed by the followers of Sri Hari. Let us look into them, now:

Vrathas:

Shaka vratha: During Ashada / Shravan masam:
During this month, all Plant based food - All Vegetables, Fruits, plant leaves, stems, branches, Dry Chillies, Green Chillies, Coconuts are avoided.

Dadhi Vratha: During the Shravana / Bhadrapad masam:
During this period, curd should not be used in any form or manner.

Ksheera Vratha: Bhadrapada / Asweeyuja masam:
During this period, milk should not be used in any form. Coconut milk can be used.

Dvidala Vratham: Asweeyuja / Karthika masam:
Any item, that can be broken into two halves should be avoided.
These include - All Dals, green peas, any fruit or vegetable that contains multiple seeds apples, grapes, pomegranate, cucumber etc.

Chandraayana vrata : 
Lunch based on the size of moon. First day of lunar cycle, one would eat just one spoon per item. Second day, it would be two spoons per item. On pournami, it would be 15 spoons. Then, it would come down from 15 to 1. Last day would be, the day of Amavasya.
In this vratham, proper planning is needed. If a person eats more items on first day, he is supposed to eat 15 spoons of all those items (15 spoons x no. of items) on the day of pournami. So, whole month should be properly planned.

Mauna bhojana vratha:
During bhojana, one must not talk to anybody. He must do only do hari nama smarana.

Paraaka Vratha:
Fasting for 12 continuous days. 

Eka Bhukta Vratha:
One time serving. All items should be served in a single plate at a time. One is not supposed to add anything in his plate once everything is served.


Akhanda Vratha: 
One time meals (lunch) per day. Nothing more than that.

Diksaadhana vratha:
Facing different directions during bhojana. 

Significance:

As per Ayurveda, there are three disorders in human body:

• Pittam (Body Internal Heat - Metabolism Related disorders)
• Vaatham (Movement , Breathing related disorders)
• Kapham (Energy related disorders)

 
The chaturmasa period is during the rainy season. During this season, human body faces all these Pittam Vaatham and Kapham doshas (problems).

• In this season, the body metabolism is effected. It is not a healthy period for us when compared to Summer and Winter seasons. So, there is a need to change our eating habits during this period.
• River water gets contaminated due to flood water. So, water consumption should also be regulated.
• Diet should be light and less oily, as digestive power would become weak. Weak digestive system leads to stomach upset.
• Ground worms could come to the surface due to rain and contaminate underground and surface vegetables.
• Green leafy vegetables are avoided in Ashada month: Green vegetables aggravate 'Vaatham' (movement disorders) and hence are avoided. Also, it is during this period, ground worms contaminate the leafy, other vegetables.
• Curd is avoided in Bhadrapad: In Bhadrapad month 'Pittam' (internal heat) accumulates and hence Pitta producing foods are avoided (curd and other fermented foods).
• Milk is avoided in Shravana masam: One should abstain from tea, coffee, sugar as milk stimulate unnecessary excitements and causes indigestion.
• Pulses (split variety) and oils are avoided in Karthika masam: In Kartika masam, Kapha dosha (energy related disorders) accumulates and hence oils, pulses are restricted.

If regular fasts are observed, such unhealthy conditions would be handled effectively. May be, that's the reason why our forefathers are never obese. They followed such a wonderful diet plan and have lead a healthy life.