History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c49.3

v3.c49.3

According to Āśv. II. 14. 1 the term Iṣṭyayana comprehends the Cāturmāsyas, Turāyaṇa, Dākṣāyaṇa and other iṣṭis. The cāturmāsyas are three (or four according to some), viz. Vaiśvadeva, Varuṇapraghāsa, Sākamedha (and Śunāsīrīya). Each of these is called a *parvan* (part or joint) of the cāturmāsyas. They are called cāturmāsyas because each of them takes place after four months.²⁴⁴³ They are performed respectively on the Full Moon days of Phālguna (or Caitra), of Āṣāḍha, Kārtika and on the 5th full moon from the day on which the Sākamedha is performed (i. e. on Phālgunī) or two or three days before it (com. on Āśv. II. 20. 2). They indicate the advent of three seasons viz. vasanta (spring), varṣā (rains) and hemanta²⁴⁴⁴ (autumn). If the Vaiśvadevaparva is performed on Caitra Full Moon, then the Varuṇapraghāsas and Sākamedhas will be performed on Śrāvaṇa and Mārgaśīrṣa Full Moon days respectively. The Tai. Br. I. 6. 8 states the reward secured by the performance of the cāturmāsyas.²⁴⁴⁵