What is Chāturmāsa ?, the significance. Why do saints avoid moving in Chāturmāsa ? Why violence should be avoided ?

Chāturmāsa ?, the significance. Why do saints avoid moving in Chāturmāsa ? Why violence should be avoided ?

Chāturmāsa (चातुर्मास्य,   ’Cāturmāsya’), also rendered Chāturmāsa, is a holy period of four months, beginning on sayani Ekādaśī (June-July) and ending on prabodhini Ekādaśī (October-November) This period also coincides with the varṣa ṛtu (rainy) season in India.

Chāturmāsa is reserved for penance, austerities, fasting, bathing in holy rivers and religious observances for all. Devotees resolve to observe some form of vow, be it of silence or abstaining from a favourite food item, or having only a single meal a day

It is said in the scriptures that do not roam around during the Chāturmāsa. Saints stay in one place for two months, some stay for three months, some stay for four months. The reason is that during the Chāturmāsa, when it rains, the sprout of every seed grows. After sprouting, it becomes a plant and then it grows into a tree. By walking and moving, the sprouts get destroyed under the feet.

Note: This is not meant for train journey etc. Moving vehicles usually use roads. It is meant only for human travelling through forest grounds, terrain which includes vegetation etc.

That is why saints stop moving around during the Chāturmāsa, so that no one is harmed. It is mentioned in the śrīmadbhāgavatam purana that if you want to conquer violence, then reduce the efforts of the body – हिंसा कायाद्यनीहया’ (७।१५।२३). When there is so much concern about the violence of immobile creatures like plants and saplings that roaming around is prohibited during the Chāturmāsa, then what can be said about mobile creatures like humans and animals.