Cāturmāsya

Though the name caturmasya is familiar to many of us in the row of vratas, there is an impression that it is related to monks and some Ma?i hengasaru (some women in the olden days who were very orthodox) and people belonging to the other Asramas need not consider it. From the view point of sastras this is a parva that should be observed by everyone. This does not belong either to the category called naimittika karma, a rite which should be performed because of a nimitta; Or a kamya karma a rite which is performed only for the fulfillment of a specific desire, which need not be observed otherwise. It happens to be a nitya karma only, as it belongs to a category in which certain rituals are mandatory at some distinct times, and the blemish of sinfulness may occur if they are not observed. There is no doubt that it must be specially observed by sanyasis. But the sastras say that is the duty of all i.e. people belonging to all Asramas, to observe it to the extent possible.