Why do Jains observe Chaturmas and what happens during those four months?

Chaturmas runs from Chaumasi Chaudas, Ashadh Sud 14, to Kartik Purnima — in 2026, from Tuesday 28 July to Tuesday 24 November.

Why it is observed

Because the road becomes alive. With the rains, insects swarm, seeds sprout, and moss, mould and nigod cover every path. A monk or nun travelling cross-country in that season could not keep irya samiti — carefulness in movement — and would inevitably destroy countless one- and two-sensed beings. So the sangha simply stops moving: vihar is suspended and varshavas, residence in a single place, is taken up.

Because scripture prescribes it. The Kalpa Sutra closes with the samachari, the conduct-rules of the rains-retreat, and the Chhed sutras set the boundaries an ascetic may not cross during these months.

Because it keeps Mahavir's own rhythm. After kevaljnana, Bhagwan Mahavir wandered and preached for eight months of every year and spent the four rainy months settled in one large town — Champa, Vaishali, Rajagriha, Mithila, Shravasti.

What happens across the four months

Shravan–Bhadrapad. The retreat opens with Chaumasi Pratikraman on Chaumasi Chaudas, closing the account of the previous four months. Laypeople take vows for the whole season — giving up green and root vegetables, keeping chauvihar, or a fixed daily tapasya.

Bhadrapad. Paryushan falls in the middle of Chaturmas — eight days for Svetambaras ending in Samvatsari (in 2026, 8–15 September), and the ten days of Das Lakshana for Digambaras (16–25 September, with Kshamavani on 26 September). The Kalpa Sutra is publicly recited and forgiveness — michchhami dukkadam — is asked of every living being.

Ashwin–Kartik. Navpad Oli, nine days of ayambil, falls in the bright fortnight of Ashwin. Diwali marks Mahavir's nirvana (8 November 2026) and Gyan Panchami honours jnana five days later.

Kartik Purnima. The retreat closes, ascetics resume vihar, and the great tirths — Shatrunjaya above all — reopen to yatra.

From our library

• Chaturmas Aatmullas Ka Parv — Devendramuni
• Ashadh Chaturmasik Vyakhyanam — Vijaylakshmisuri
• Kalpsutra — Punyavijay, Bechardas Doshi