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29 THE SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT DURING THE CHATURMAS, ANNUALLY AND
THROUGHOUT ONE'S LIFE
The Shraddhavidhi : prescriptions relating to faith and Dharma which a Shravak should carry out during the Chaturmas, during the year and throughout his life-span is fully described in the Shastras.
THE DUTIES RELATING TO THE CHATURMAS :
A Shravak should carry out some special spiritual activities and austerities during the Chaturmas, that is the 4 months of the rainy season commencing from the month of Ashad. These have two objectives : (1) since it is the rainy season the production of jivas and destruction take place in a special form and to a great degree. Therefore, a Shravak should bear in his mind the idea that he should be kind to the jivas and he should discard all aberrations. (2) There will be during this season a natural depression or decrease in the occupations or business of Shravaks. The Munis or the spiritual heads stay in the same place during the Chaturmas. Therefore the Shravaks get a special and easy opportunity to carry out spiritual austerities.
On account of this reason, the Shravak has to undertake several kinds of vows and rules to carry out such spiritual activities and austerities as Jnanachar, Dharshanachar, Charitrachar, Tapachar and Viryachar as well as to carry out endeavours to attain higher and higher levels of purity and spiritual knowledge and having undertaken those vows he has to carry them out with a whole-hearted devotion and dedication. He must epitomise or abbreviate the 12 vratas he has undertaken. If he has not undertaken any vows he has to undertake new vows and rules. For example, he should take vows to carry out the following activities :
Worshipping the Lord three times a day; using special substances for the worship; extraordinary salutations to be offered to the gods; carrying out oblations; acquiring new knowledge by means of scriptural studies and discourses; taking
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