Chaturmaas | Chaturmaas Importance | What to Eat and What to Not Eat in Chaturmaas | Things to Do and Not Do in Chaturmaas | Chaturmaas Katha

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Chaturmaas word has taken from Sanskrit. Chatur means four and maas means month. Chaturmaas begins from Devshayani Ekadashi of Ashadha month and concludes on Devutthani Ekadashi of Kartik month. So, it is observed for 4 months. Lord Vishnu goes to Yog Nidra for four months from Devshayani Ekadashi of Ashadha month to Devutthani Ekadashi of Kartik month and this period of four months is called Chaturmaas. Chaturmaas is observed by devotees, karmis, gyanis and yogis to attain their desires. Other people who want to follow and observe Chaturmaas can observe it. It is believed that celestial beings and saints do not move around in the universe and they do strict Tapasya at one place. People visit Vrindawan and Mathura during this period.

There are four holy months of Chaturmaas in which we should avoid some foods.

Some food items that are to be avoided in these four months are:

Shrawan: Avoid leafy vegetables, fruits, spices, dry fruits

Bhadrapad: Avoid taking curd and food made from curd.

Ashwin: Avoid milk, paneer, ghee, butter, curd, kheer and other food item made from milk.

Kartik: Avoid onion, garlic and urad daal

It is believed that these 4 months of Chaturmaas vrat is kept to flush out the toxins from our body and it helps to regain in our good health.

What to not do in Chaturmaas?

Don’t use blue or black colour clothes.
Don’t do conspiracy against anyone.
Sleep on floor for these 4 months. Those who sleep on floor these days, don’t have lack of money. Sleeping on floor is considered very auspicious in this month.
People observe maun vrat and they spend time in worshipping lord Vishnu.
Don’t use pomegranate, lemon, chiili, urad daal or urad in Chaturmaas.
These 4 months is for spiritual activities and we should not do auspicious activity like marriage, house warming or any other mangal karya like this.
Don’t drink and eat non-vegetarian food.

What should be followed in Chaturmaas?

Get up in Brahma Muhurta in morning and have bath.
Give bath to lord Vishnu with Panchamrit and pure water. Apply Chandan tilak.
Chanting mantras or Stotra related with lord Vishnu like Vishnu Sahashtranaam or reading Vishnu Puraan has it’s own benefits.
Read religious books like Bhagwadgeeta and Ramayan.
Fasting, chanting, donations has it’s own benefits. So one should follow these rituals.
Donate in temples also.
Do cleaning of lord Vishnu Ji temple.
Have fast and puja in all the Ekadashi of Chaturmaas.
Offer Tulsi leaves to lord Vishnu and do Tulsi puja daily. Light up diya in evening near Tulsi mata.