Second Month of Caturmasya Begins

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Event:

Second Month of Caturmasya Begins

Date:

August 22, 2013 (Mayapur)

Category:

Other Festivals

Second Month of Caturmas BeginsSecond month: No yoghurt (if one requires it for health, it can be mixed with water)

Caturmasya stands for ‘four months’. It is the period between sayana and uttana ekadasis. The scriptures refer to this period as the duration of Lord Visnu’s sleep in this universe.

The main goal of observing Caturmasya is to decrease attachment to material things and to increase devotion to Krishna.

One should not eat fish or other non-vegetarian food during the month of Kartik. Masura dal and urad dal being high in protein is also considered non-vegetarian.” Thus during caturmasya one should practice to give up all food intended for sense enjoyment. However, maha-prasad, though containing restricted item can be honoured!

It is stated in Hari Bhakti Vilasa 15/113 that ‘after properly praying to the Supreme Lord near Him, one should properly take a vow to follow the proper rules and regulations and process of caturmasya to increase one’s devotion to Lord Sri Krishna.’

So please take this opportunity and engage yourself yourselves in the service of the Lord with much enthusiasm and make your life sublime.

– See more at: http://harekrishnacalendar.com/vaishnava-calendar/second-month-of-caturmasya-begins-2013/#sthash.vrMI0CiV.dpuf

First month:

First month of Caturmasya begins (Fast from sak, green leafy vegetables, for one month)

“The Caturmasya period begins in the month of Ashadha (June-July) from the day of Ekadasi called Sayana-ekadasi, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. The period ends in the month of Kartika (October-November) on the Ekadasi day known as Utthana-ekadasi, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. This four-month period is known as Caturmasya. Some Vaishnavas also observe it from the full-moon day of Ashadha until the full-moon day of Kartika. That is also a period of four months. This period, calculated by the lunar months, is called Caturmasya, but others also observe Caturmasya according to the solar month from Sravana to Kartika. The whole period, either lunar or solar, takes place during the rainy season. Caturmasya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a grihastha or a sannyasi. The observance is obligatory for all asramas. The real purpose behind the vow taken during these four months is to minimize the quantity of sense gratification. This is not very difficult. In the month of Sravana one should not eat spinach, in the month of Bhadra one should not eat yogurt, and in the month of Asvina one should not drink milk. One should not eat fish or other nonvegetarian food during the month of Kartika. A nonvegetarian diet means fish and meat. Similarly, masura dal and urad dal are also considered nonvegetarian. These two dals contain a great amount of protein, and food rich in protein is considered nonvegetarian. On the whole, during the four-month period of Caturmasya one should practice giving up all food intended for sense enjoyment.

(A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Madhya-lila 4.169. purport.)

Notes:

Urja vrata – means restricting eating.

The term “spinach” in India refers to green leafy vegetables of that nature.

The yogurt fast is fasting from eating yogurt by itself. Yogurt used as a binding agent for cake is not included.

Milk fast means refrain from drinking milk. Milk sweets, milk by-products are okay.

In the fourth (last) month, Ashvin Shukla Dashami to Kartik Shukla Dwadashi one should not partake dicotyledon grains (grains breaking in two parts) like gram, tur urad, masur etc., Similarly, one should not eat fruits or vegetables containing lot of seeds. This also applies to tubors as ordained. Thus reason for making a list of prohibited items seperately for each of the four months is in the nature of dietary discipline, and declared as daily regimen (“Nityavrata”) by the scriptures.

During Festivals of the Lord (ie Balaram’s App, Sri Krishna Janmastami, Radhastami, etc) all preparations are offered to the Lord and chaturmasya vrata of restrictive honouring of even foods in the above categories does not apply. (yes one can honour Urid dal kachoris that have been offered to Srila Prabhupad on his Tirubhav)

Also during the Purushottam Adika masa there is no observance of chaturmasya.

Chaturmasya means “four months”, which is the duration that Vishnu sleeps.

Ekadasi, Asadha 11 (July 20, 2002). The time the Vishnu goes to sleep for four months.

Naga Panchami, Sravana 5 (Aug 12, 2002). The cobras are appeased at this festival, which is dedicated to the serpent Ananta (aka Sesha?), on whose coils Vishnu rested when he created the universe.

“Vishnu lies on Ananta”, Bhadra 14 (Sept 19, 2002). Celebration of Vishnu lying on the cobra Ananta. [same as Sharad Purnima?]

“Vishnu wakes”. eleven days after new moon in [Agrahayana]. Vishnu wakes.

No leafy vegetables, such as spinach, salads of all types, cabbages of all types, kale, leafy herbs like coriander, mint, parsley, curry and powdered leafy herbs and teas.

Caturmasya stands for ‘four months’. It is the period between sayana and uttana ekadasis. The scriptures refer to this period as the duration of Lord Visnu’s sleep in this universe.

The main goal of observing Caturmasya is to decrease attachment to material things and to increase devotion to Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada writes in Caitanya Caritamrta, “Caturmasya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a grihasta or a sanyasi. The observation is obligatory to all ashramas.” He further explains how to observe the vow: “This is not very difficult. In the month of Sravana one should not eat spinach (green leafy vegetables of the nature), in the month of Bhadra one should not eat yogurt (yogurt used as binding agent for cake is allowed), and in the month of Asvina one should not drink milk (milk sweets, milk by-products are fine). One should not eat fish or other non-vegetarian food during the month of Kartik. Masura dal and urad dal being high in protein is also considered non-vegetarian.” Thus during caturmasya one should practice to give up all food intended for sense enjoyment. However, maha-prasad, though containing restricted item can be honoured!

So please take this opportunity and engage yourself yourselves in the service of the Lord with much enthusiasm and make your life sublime.

– See more at: http://harekrishnacalendar.com/vaishnava-calendar/first-month-of-caturmasya-begins-2013/#sthash.D5ZzNe2h.dpuf

CATURMASYA

Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja

[July 22, 2013 (in India) was the first day of Caturmasya, the four month period each year from July to November, in which devotees observe certain rules and regulations in order to advance in their bhakti. Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja speaks about Caturmasya each year. The lecture below was given on the first day of the second half of Caturmasya at Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha in Mathura, India, on September 13, 2000. Srila Maharaja’s lecture was on the topics of Sri Visvarupa Mahotsava and the sannyasa ceremony of Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Prabhupada.

For those of you who do not have the calendar and would like to follow the austerities of this month, or some part of them, the list is included at the bottom of the lecture excerpt. -ed]

Today is a very sacred day in our line. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa and began to search for his brother, Sri Visvarupa. While searching, He found out on this day that His brother had been in Pandarapur, and there he had left his body and had taken samadhi on the bank of the river Bhima. Then, although Mahaprabhu was observing Caturmasya-vrata very strictly for four months, He shaved off His hair on this day. Before this year, He had never shaved for these four months, nor did He cut his nails. He observed all the rules and regulations of Caturmasya.

There are many items that are not allowed during Caturmasya, such as leafy vegetables on the first month, yogurt on the second month, milk on the third month, and mustard oil on the forth month. Besides this, throughout all four months, tomatoes, eggplants, and several other foodstuffs are prohibited.

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to follow all these rules very strictly, but nowadays we see that devotees don’t follow. Our Guru Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura were very strong in this regard. Srila Prabhupada said, “Take my photo during the four months of Caturmasya-vrata, to show that I never shave at that time. Always keep it; otherwise so many so-called disciples will say, ‘Oh, Prabhupada never observed Caturmasya-vrata’.”

By his causeless mercy, Parama-pujyapada Srila Bhaktivedanta Svami Maharaja gave concessions in the Western countries, and that is the only reason he also used to shave. The Westerners could not follow strictly at that time. That is why he allowed tomatoes and eggplant, that is also why he used to take them, and that is why he also allowed carrots.

I am therefore also giving concessions, not here in India, but in Western countries. If the devotees there like, they can take these items; but we don’t take them. We should strictly follow our proper line from Mahaprabhu to Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura and my gurus, Srila Bhaktiprajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja and Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja. In Western countries some concession may be given, but here in India we are very strict. If we cannot follow this, then how can we follow Sri Krsna, and how can we serve Sri Sri Radha and Krsna? Mahaprabhu shaved – after two months – and we follow this.

Restricted foods during the entire four months of Caturmasya:

Eggplants, tomatoes, loki, parmal, urad dahl, and honey
Particular foods that are restricted during each of the four months:
First month: No leafy vegetables, such as spinach, salads of all types,
cabbages of all types, kale, leafy herbs like coriander, mint, parsley, curry and

powdered leafy herbs and teas

Second month: No yoghurt (if one requires it for health, it can be mixed with
water)

Third month: No milk (if required, it can be mixed with a drop of lemon juice)
Fourth month: No mustard oil or sesame seeds

Foods that can be taken all days of the year, including Ekadasi and

Caturmasya:

All fruits (fresh and dried), all nuts and all oils made from nuts
Potatoes, pumpkin, cucumber, radish, squash, lemon, avocado, olives, coconut,
buckwheat, all sugars

All pure milk products (except yoghurt during the 2nd month of Caturmasya
and milk during the 3rd month)

For sannyasis, brahmacaris and vanaprasthas: shaving head and cutting
nails is to be done on full moon days

Caturmasya