Chaturmasya
chaturmasya sanskrit चातुर्मास्य lit cāturmāsya pali catumāsa also rendered chāturmāsa holy period four month beginning shayani ekadashi junejuly ending prabodhini ekadashi octobernovember hinduism period also coincides monsoon season india chaturmasya reserved penance austerity fasting bathing holy river religious observance devotee resolve observe form vow silence abstaining favourite food item single meal day chaturmasya literally mean four month derived sanskrit chatur चतुर् four māsa मासः month chaturmasya begin eleventh day hindu lunar month ashadha devashayani ekadashi celebrated day deity vishnu enters yogic sleep yoga nidra serpent shesha period four month wake prabodhini ekadashi associated story king bali vishnu incarnation vamana bali king demon seized power indra king god ruling entire universe god sought shelter vishnu regain power vishnu incarnated vamana dwarf asked bali three step land soon bali obliged vamana assumed gigantic form first step covered entire earth second step covered midworld since place third step bali suggested vamana place head vamana pleased granted boon third step sent bali patala netherworld according boon bali requested vamana vishnu live patala vishnu obliged worried deity including goddess lakshmi vishnu consort lakshmi devised plan allowed vishnu live bali certain duration duration also known chaturmasya period vishnu sleep visiting king bali follower shaivism sect recall story churning ocean milk story recall shiva saved creation drinking poison called halahala emerged ocean churned asura demon devas demigod poison held throat prevent spreading rest body thus turning blue performing lifecycle rite wedding considered inauspicious chaturmasya instead seen suitable time householder annual renewal faith listening discourse dharma meditation vrata selfcontrol penance austerity religious observance recital mantra bathing holy river performing sacrifice charity prescribed fast purity period help maintain health likely scientific rationale disease spreading readily onset monsoon number hindu particularly following vaishnava tradition refrain eating meal oily salty sweet contain onion garlic eggplant period sanyasi ascetic observe chaturmasya four fortnight beginning full moon day month ashadha also known guru purnima vyas purnima ending full moon day month bhadrapada sanyasi supposed halt one place period major celebration within holy period include guru purnima krishna janmashtami raksha bandhan ganesh chaturthi navaratri dasahra – durga puja – vijayadashami diwali champa sashthi margashirsha bright th per custom maharashtra chaturmasya end day jainism practice collectively known varshayog prescribed jain monasticism wandering monk mendicant ascetic jainism believe rainy season countless bug insect tiny creature cannot seen naked eye take birth massively therefore monk reduce amount harm creature opt stay single place four month incur minimal harm life monk generally stay one place long night female night male observe annual rain retreat period living one place entire period amidst lay people observing vow silence mauna meditation fasting austerity also giving religious discourse local public fourmonth rainyseason period mendicant must stay one place chief sadhu every group give daily sermon pravacana vyakhyana attended mostly woman older retired men special day lay congregation eight month travel sadhu give sermon whenever requested often come new village town travel one important jain festival paryushana fall beginning period concludes forgiveness day kshamavani diwas wherein lay people disciple say micchami dukkadam ask forgiveness amongst jain merchant tradition inviting monk respective city chaturmasya give religious instruction jainism third part classical jain text kalpa sutra written bhadrabahu st century ad deal rule ascetic law four month chaturmas rainy season ascetic temporarily abandon wandering life settle amidst laity time festival paryushan celebrated kalpasutra traditionally recited gautama buddha stayed royal garden king bimbisara rajgir recently converted period chaturmasya gave sermon practice followed monk day another reason ascetic stay one place rainy season tropical climate produce large number insect would trampled travelling monk vassa varshavas ie threemonth annual stay observed theravada monk begin asalha puja end bassa kathina new robe donated laity monk cort john e jains world religious value ideology india oxford university press isbn jain chaturmasya begin