What is Chaturmas & it’s Significance
Spirituality
Chaturmas means 4 Months of Monsoon In our Vedic scriptures, Chaturmas is known as an auspicious time for devotion, penance & spiritual practices. What is the significance of this Chaturmas? What is the origin of this Chaturmas? There is a great mythological legend behind this Chaturmas, which is explained in Vishnu Puran.
In Vaman Avatar, Bhagwan Vamaji asked just 3 steps of land from Bali Maharaj who was doing Yagna. The moment Bali Maharaj promised to give 3 steps of land, Vamanji assumed a huge gigantic form & Vamanji measured whole earth & sky by his 2 steps, nothing left in the universe for the 3rd step.
Finally, Bali Maharaj dedicated himself before Vamanji for the 3rd step, Vamanji kept his 3rd step on Bali Maharaj & Bali Maharaj went downwards to the Sutal Lok. Lord Vishnu in the form of Vamanji pleased a lot by the dedication & devotion of Bali Maharaj & asked him to ask for the boon.
Bali Maharaj asked, “Always give me your darshan & stay with me” So since that time Lord Vishnu is staying in the Sutal Lok with Bali Maharaj.
Later Laxmiji came to Sutal lok, Laxmiji tied Rakshasutra to Bali Maharaj as a sister & requested him to send Lord Vishnu back to Vainkuth Lok Bali Maharaj agreed but also asked to stay for 4 months with him in Sutal Lok. Afterwards, Brahmaji & Lord Shiv also followed this promise.
So for the 4 months of Monsoon, Lord Vishnu stays in Sutal Lok & gives darshan to Bali Maharaj, next 4 months of Winter lord Shiv & next 4 months of summer Brahmaji stays in the Sutal lok. So during this 4 months of Monsoon Lord Vishnu stays with his devotees and gives his Darshan to them
During these 4 months of monsoon, God is completely free to accept the devotion of his devotees
So during this Chaturmas, whatever devotion and penance we do to please God, God gives his divine bliss and blessings to us.
Devotion & penance performed during this Chaturmas gives more Punya than it is performed in other months and by devotion & penance our senses & mind get purified & purified mind only can connect with God. Also, Bhagwan Swaminarayan as a Nilkanth Varni has done hard Penance in Pulhashram during the 4 months of Chaturmas And also Bhagwan Swaminarayan has given the command to us in Shikshapatri that
विशेषनियमो धार्यश्चातुर्मास्ये।खिलैरपि ।
“My Devotees should undertake extra spiritual observances during the four holy months of Chaturmas”
As we are the devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, we should take some special Niyams / Vows during this Chaturmas to please Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Well, Now the question is
What kind of Vows should we take for Chaturmas Vrat?
You can take 3 kinds of Niyams during the Chaturmas to please Bhagwan Swaminarayan & Saints
Devotion Related Vows like I will…
- Perform Morning pooja & evening prayer,
- Do 3 Mansi Pooja
- Offer Thal God
- Do online Mantralekhan daily
- Read Scriptures daily. (Shikshapatri, Vachanamrutam, Bhagwad Gita)
- Say “Jay Swaminarayan” before drinking water & eating.
- Chant 11 times “Swaminarayan” Mantra before I use Mobile
If you follow such kind of devotional Niyams it will help you to connect with God, it will purify your emotions & thoughts
Penance Related Vows like I will…
- Observe fast on the day of Ekadashi (Never eat grains)
- Eat only 2 times or 3 times in a day (Avoid frequent eating & grazing)
- I will wake up early morning at 5 AM
It has so many scientific advantages related to our mental & physical fitness. Our ancient Sages were so intelligent, visionary & knowledgeable, why? Because they used to do the penance.
When you reduce the gratification of senses, your mind Power increases, your memory power also increases.
Moral Values Related Vows like I will…
- Do Pranam to parents daily
- Help mother in household work
- Spend 4 to 6 Hrs for studies every day
- Learn & master a new skill
- Read Autobiography of Great people
- Not waste time over social media and TV
If you follow such kind of Moral Vows it will improve your moral power, it will improve your confidence & your academic results.
And above all, if you follow these 3 kinds of Niyams, you will get the blessings of God, saints & your parents as well
You can take any 2 to 3 Niyams during the Chaturmas before the Murti of God & your parents.
And remember, How many Niyams you take is not important but how honestly & regularly you follow the Niyams till the end of Chaturmas is most important. So, Let’s perform devotion & penance during this Chaturmas & please Bhagwan Swaminarayan, saints & parents.
Origin Story behind Chaturmas vart
हिन्दु धर्म ग्रंथों के अनुसार हर वर्ष आषाढ़ शुक्ल एकादशी से भगवान विष्णु अगले चार माह तक शयन करते हैं। इसके पीछे एक पुराण कथा है। पुराणों के अनुसार विष्णु चार मास सुतल में निवास कर बलि को दिया वचन निभाते हैं। वामन अवतार में भगवान विष्णु ने दान के लिए प्रसिद्ध दैत्यराज बलि से तीन पग जमीन मांगी थी।
राजा बलि द्वारा वचन देने के बाद विष्णु ने एक पग में पृथ्वी, आकाश और दिशाओं को नाप लिया तथा दूसरे पग में स्वर्ग लोक ले लिया। तीसरा पग रखने के लिए बलि ने अपने आपको समर्पित कर दिया। इससे खुश होकर विष्णु ने बलि से वर मांगने को कहा। बलि ने कहा आप हमेशा मेरे यहां निवास करेंगे। तब लक्ष्मी ने अपने स्वामी को बलि के बंधन से बचाने के लिए उसे रक्षासूत्र बांध कर भाई बना लिया और स्वामी को वचन से मुक्त करने का निवेदन किया। बलि ने उन्हें वचन मुक्त तो किया पर चार माह तक सुतल लोक में रहने का वचन ले लिया। तभी से विष्णु द्वारा दिए गए वचन का पालन ब्रह्मा और महेश भी करते हैं।
पुराणों में मान्यता है कि ब्रह्मा, विष्णु और महेश बारी-बारी से शयन करते हैं। विष्णु के बाद महेश अर्थात शंकर महाशिवरात्रि तक और ब्रह्मा शिवरात्रि से देवशयनी एकादशी, चार-चार माह तक सुतल यानी भूमि के अंदर निवास करते हैं।
हिन्दू धर्म में व्रत, भक्ति और शुभ कर्म के 4 महीने को ‘चातुर्मास’ (चौमासा, Chaturmas) कहा गया है।> > ध्यान और साधना करने वाले लोगों के लिए ये माह महत्वपूर्ण होते हैं। इस दौरान शारीरिक और मानसिक स्थिति तो सही होती ही है, साथ ही वातावरण भी अच्छा रहता है। चातुर्मास 4 महीने की अवधि है, जो आषाढ़ शुक्ल एकादशी से प्रारंभ होकर कार्तिक शुक्ल एकादशी तक चलता है।
इन चार मासों में कोई भी मंगल कार्य- जैसे विवाह, नवीन गृहप्रवेश आदि नहीं किया जाता है। ऐसा क्यों? तो इसके पीछे सिर्फ यही कारण है कि आप पूरी तरह से ईश्वर की भक्ति में डूबे रहें, सिर्फ ईश्वर की पूजा-अर्चना करें।
देखा जाए तो बदलते मौसम में जब शरीर में रोगों का मुकाबला करने की क्षमता यानी प्रतिरोधक शक्ति बेहद कम होती है, तब आध्यात्मिक शक्ति प्राप्ति के लिए व्रत करना, उपवास रखना और ईश्वर की आराधना करना बेहद लाभदायक माना जाता है।
The Holy Command of Bhagwan Swaminarayan
My Devotees should undertake extra spiritual observances during the four holy months of Chaturmas
विशेषनियमो धार्यश्चातुर्मास्ये।खिलैरपि । एकस्मिन् श्रावणे मासि स त्वशक्तैस्तु मानवैः ।।७६।।
Good
Thank you shree Swamiji
This story is very Nice☺
This story is super
Good
Nice the story is awesome
Thanks to gurukul to giving valuable knowledge hare Krishna
Thanks to gurukul to giving valuable knowledge hare Krishna 🙏🙏
THANK YOU SWAMIJI.
JAY SWAMINARAYAN
Speechless. Swamiji you are great
And God is God
Speechless
God is very nice
This is very useful for all
Jay SWAMINARAYAN SWAMIJI , WE UNDERSTOOD THE SIGNIFICANCE OF CHATURMAS,WHERE THE GOD LIVES WITH HIS DEVOTEES,BY WORSHIPING HIM.OUR LIFE WILL FRUIT.THANKS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL CHATURMAS SIGNIFICANCE ……….
Jay Swaminarayan
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. Very nice information 👍🙏
Very best videos great learning
Super story sir
good
Thank you swamiji for sharing this very nice story
Thank you
Hi Gurukul Team, Thanks for Sharing, me and my son will surely follow.
Thanks
Thanks swamiji for explaining us about chaturmas and about vamanji and bali maharaj because of you only weare learning so many things swamiji
Jay swamianarayan swamiji thanks for Chaturmas niyams Jay swaminarayan
Jay Swaminarayan
Jay swaminarayan swamiji thanks for Chatumas niyams
I follow all chaturmas
Very nice story sir
Jai swamynarayana
Very good
Good
I like being in gurukul for my good luck
I will perform fast at ekadashi
I will do pranam to parents
I will never eat onion and garlic
I will help mother in household work I will I never use bad words
This story is very Nice
Thank you swami ji
I like story
I will follow it stricley
I will follow it strictly Swamiji
Its useful.
I will follow it strictly
I understood about the importance of God and follow the niyams to reach the feet of Bhagavan Shree Swaminarayan
It was superb n
Fantastics
Good
Excellent
This story is super and very Interesting 😊
I will follow my chaturmas niyam and thanks swamji’s to guide this type of information
Awesome Speechless
1.I will read one whole book in chaturmas
2.I will improve my English speaking
Thank you swamiji for giving us the true knowledge about god. And for sharing devotional stories with us.
thank you swamiji for giving us the true knowledge about god. And for sharing us the amazing story
Super story Swamiji I will follow this 3 Niyams and I will develop my spiritual practices like Pooja etc.etc
I understand how we can please god
Jay swaminarayan,
Jay Swaminarayan
ya
i have send the nimayas that
i will help my mother in household things
good niyamas
Swamiji ,Jay swaminarayana .Your effort which is so good and explain me about the Vaman Avatar. .I visited Swaminarayan temple in delhi last year.This is so good, and I always pray every day to Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan in the morning time and evening time. I read this article yesterday regarding the ancient Hindu beliefs, which are also exciting and giving good information and i know that bhagvat puran mention about this Vaman bhagvan who is actually lord vishnu.
Jay Jay Shree Swaminarayan.Jay Jay Shree Swaminarayan.Jay Jay Shree Swaminarayan to all of yo
I like it
Now I know about what chaturmas is thankyou swamiji and everyone else jai Swaminarayan
🌞🌞
Looking forward to reading more. Great article post. Much thanks again. Want more. Carolann Sancho Babette
Very good article! We will be linking to this great article on our site. Keep up the great writing. Laney Isadore Roots
Hello, just wanted to say, I loved this blog post. Aaren Durand Pelage
I will do all the niyama.