Chaturmaas
What do we mean by Chaturmaas ? This is a
period of four months namely Ashadh, Shravan, Bhadarvo and Aaso ( monsoon
period ). It starts on Devshayani Ekadashi in the month of Ashadh and ends
on Prabodhini Ekadashi in the month of Kartik.
The significance of Chaturmaas is to observe
extra penance, engage in extra devotion and control over sense gratification
etc. Shree Swaminarayan Bhagwan writes in the Shikshapatri :-
All my disciples shall take a vow to observe
additional austerity during the four months of monsoon (beginning from the
eleventh day of the bright half of Ashadsh month and ending on the twelfth
day of the bright half of Kartik month ) and those who are unable to do so,
may serve at least during the month of Shravan.
The following are the best methods of
observances to be adopted and followed daily as rules:-
-
Read or listen
to Katha (religious discourses)
-
Sing
devotional songs in praise of the Lord
-
Perform pooja
on a grand scale (maha pooja)
-
Chanting God's
mantra.
-
Read the books
of Stotra (praise)
-
Going round
God's icon ( Pradakshina)
-
Prostrate in
reverence before God ( shashtang dandavat)
Along with the
observances of daily religious austerities, my
disciples shall choose any one of the above
methods as additional devotion practice during
Chaturmaas and follow it daily with deep
devotion. (Shiktapatri shloka 76-78).
During the chaaturmaas period
In this auspicious period one should strive to perform good deeds. We are devotees of
Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
Swaminarayan bhagwan has ordered us to take up an extra niyam in the chaaturmaas period.
You can take up any of the niyams listed below or others that you wish to take.
Once you have decided on the niyam which you wish to follow you must then make a vow in-front of
that
I will follow this niyam during the chaaturmaas period,
Please give me strength and courage so that i may able to follow my chosen niyam.
Confide in the saints of which niyam you are taking and request them to remind you frequently about your niyam.
oh lord! with your grace,
-
I
will
chant
108
mantras
everyday.
-
I
will
sing
janmangal
mantra
once
everyday.
-
I
will
do
maha
pooja
11
times
during
chaaturmaas
and
also
encourage
others
to
do
it.
-
I
will
do
11
pradikshna
everyday.
-
I
will
sing
1
kirtan
everyday.
-
I
will
do
11
danvats
everyday.
I
will
listen
to
katha
every
morning
and
evening.
-
I
will
listen
to
katha
once
a
week.
-
I
will
sing
chesta
everyday.
-
I
will
read
1
vachumrut
or 1
question
atleast.
-
I
will
not
eat
a
chosen
saak
during
this
period.
-
I
will
go
mandir
to
do
darsan
once
everyday.
-
I
will
go
mandir
everyday
sunday
without
fail.
-
I
will
go
to
mandir
to
do 1
of
the
5
aartis
everyday.
-
I
will
do
divo
and
sing
dhun
with
the
family
infront
of
bhagwan.
-
I
will
fast
on
the
special
days
during
this
period.
-
I
will
not
eat
outside
cooked
food.
-
I
will
only
eat
once
during
ekadashi.
-
I
will
not
eat
at
all
for
3 of
the
special
ekadashi.(asad
sud,
badhar
sud,
karthick
sud)
-
I
will
donate
everyday
use
items
or
money
to
bhagwan
on
full
moon
days.
-
I
will
say
bhagwans
name
11
times
before
i go
to
sleep.
-
I
will
say
jay
swaminarayan
when
i
recieve
a
phone
call.
-
I
will
say
jay
swaminarayan
to
everyone
i
meet.
-
I
will
say
jay
swaminarayan
to
any
satsangis
without
fail.
-
I
will
not
eat
or
drink
anything
until
i
have
completed
my
pooja.
-
I
will
only
eat
once
everyday
during
the
month
of
shravan.
-
I
will
complete
atleast
1
holy
scripture
during
this
period.
-
I
will
go
to
bhuj
mandir
and
do
darsan
on
shri
nar
narayan
dev
every
ekadashi
(or
darshan
on
the
internet)
-
I
will
attend
yuvak
mandal
sabhas.
-
I
will
write
swaminarayan
maha
mantra
in a
book.
-
From
the
niyams
above
I
will
choose
at
least
1.
These
niyams
are
requested
by
hariswaroopdasji
swami (mahant
swami of
bhuj) to
follow.
