Anantapur: Chaturmasa Vratham, which is observed during the rainy season, has begun with great fervor throughout the nation. Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious leaders often observe deeksha over a two-and-a-half month period of Ashada Bahula Dwadasi. The saints and ascetic observe Chaturmasa for four fortnights, from the full moon day of Ashadha, which is also known as Vyas Purnima, until the day of the full moon of Bhadrapada.
Sanyasis usually stop at one place and give public speeches to Prabodhini Ekadashi, the eleventh day of the bright half of the month of Kart-hik in the Hindu calendar. The Chaturmasa period is dedicated to penance, austerities, fasts, baths in sacred rivers and religious observances. De-votes observe votes such as silence or abstinence from one’s favorite foods to avoid infections caused by seasonal changes.
Sri Subhudendra Theertha Swamy, the Pontiff of the Mantralayam Sri Raghavendra Swamy Mutt, is scheduled to remain in the Mantralayam to observe deeksha. He will be accompanied by Sri Vidyamanohar Theertha, the former pontiff of the Vyasaraya Mutt. Peethadhipathi of Sri Sarada Peetham Mutt in Chinamushidivada and Swami Swaroopananden-dra Saraswathi of Vizag will observe the Chatha-masha deeksha in Rishikesh, from July 15 to September 12.
Sri Satyatma Theertha, the pontiff of the Uttaradi Mutt, is scheduled to remain in the Mahbubnagar district of Telangana for more than two months. Sri Vidyadhiraja Theertha will observe his 50th Chatha-mass deeksha in Goa. Vidya Vallabha Theertha of the Kaniyur Mutt in Udipi will observe deeksha in Annanagar in Tamil Nadu. Sri Viswesa Theertha of Mutt Pejawar will also be in Udipi during the deeksha period. Deeksha is of great prominence in Buddhism, for Gautama Buddha had stayed in the royal gardens of Rajgir king Bimbis-ara and gave sermons during the Chaturmas period. That practice is followed by the Bu-ddhist monks even today.
Another reason why ascetics stay in one place during the rainy season is that the insect population increases during the rainy season. These insects are capable of causing infections, and can be trampled under the feet of traveling monks. In Jainism, the rules to be observed by ascetics during the four months of the rainy season are described in the third section of the Kalpa Sutra, the classic Jain text that was written by Bhadrabahu-I in the first century AD. He directs the ascetics to temporarily abandon their errant form of life and settle among the laity. During this period, the festival of Paryushan is celebrated and the Kalpa Sutra is recited.
