What is Chaturmas & it’s Significance

Spirituality

Published on : June 27, 2020 Updated on : October 10, 2020 What is Chaturmas & it’s Significance
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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

If you follow such kind of devotional Niyams it will help you to connect with God, it will purify your emotions & thoughts

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.

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।।

 

66 thoughts on “What is Chaturmas & it’s Significance

  1. 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 ……….

  2. 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 👍🙏

  3. Thanks swamiji for explaining us about chaturmas and about vamanji and bali maharaj because of you only weare learning so many things swamiji

    1. I will never eat onion and garlic
      I will help mother in household work I will I never use bad words

  4. Thank you swamiji for giving us the true knowledge about god. And for sharing devotional stories with us.

  5. thank you swamiji for giving us the true knowledge about god. And for sharing us the amazing story

  6. 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

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