Kharmas 2024: When is Kharmas Starting? Know Its Religious Significance and What one Can and Cannot Do

Due to the exposure to the Sun, the auspicious effect of Devguru Jupiter is reduced.

During Kharmas all kinds of auspicious works are prohibited. According to religious beliefs, such a situation takes place twice in a year. One Kharmas is from mid-March to mid-April (April 2024) and the other takes place is from mid-December to mid-January.

Duration ofKharmas
On March 14 (March 2024) at 12:34 pm, when the Sun will leave Aquarius and enter the zodiac sign Pisces marking the beginning of Kharmas. During this time, Sun God will enter Uttarabhadrapad on 17th March and Revati Nakshatra on 31st March. Kharmas will end on 13 April 2024.

In Kharmas, all kinds of auspicious activities like marriage, housewarming, mundan etc. are prohibited. During these days, there is a tradition of chanting mantras, making donations, taking a holy bath in rivers and doing pilgrimages.

Kharmas is very auspicious from the point of view of worship. Therefore, devotees participate in reciting the scriptures during this period. Every day of Kharmas is very auspicious as worshipping during this month, chanting mantras and doing charity gives inexhaustible virtues to one. Akshaya virtue means such virtue whose auspicious effect remains throughout one’s life.

Kharmas comes twice a year
According to the Hindu Panchang, between 15 December 2023 and 15 January 2024, the Sun was in Sagittarius. Now from 15 March 2024 to 15 April 2024, it will be in Pisces. Therefore, during these two months, there will be a conjunction of Sun and Jupiter, which is not considered auspicious for doing any kind of auspicious work.

Sun God serves his Guru
The Guru planet i.e. Devguru Jupiter (Guru Grah), the lord of the zodiac signs Sagittarius and Pisces travels through all the 12 zodiac signs and stays in one zodiac sign for about a month. In this way, the Sun completes one revolution through all the 12 zodiac signs in a year.

During this period, when the Sun comes enters the zodiacs Sagittarius and Pisces, marks the beginning of Kharmas. When the Sun leaves these zodiac signs and moves ahead, Kharmas ends. Astrology believes that in Kharmas, the Sun God lives in the house of his Guru Jupiter and serves the Guru.

Why auspicious works are prohibited in Kharmas?
Sun is the only direct deity and one of the Panchadevs. At the beginning of any auspicious work, Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiv, Vishnu, Goddess Durga and Suryadev are worshipped. When the Sun remains in the service of its Guru Jupiter, its power declines.

Besides, the strength of Jupiter also reduces due to the exposure to the Sun. Due to the weak position of these two planets, it is advised not to perform auspicious rituals. If the Sun and Jupiter are in a good position at the time of marriage, then the chances of the marriage being successful are quite high.

Surya Mantra
Chant the mantra “Surya Mantra Om Suryay Namah during Kharmas.

What is the meaning of Kharmas?
Jupiter is the lord of Sagittarius and Pisces. When the Sun appears in these zodiac signs, it leads to Kharmas Dosha. It is said that if Jupiter is in the Sun’s sign and the Sun remains in Jupiter’s sign, then that period is called Gurvaditya. Which is considered prohibited for all auspicious works.

Recite Bhagwat Katha in Kharmas
During Kharmas one should recite the Shri Ram Katha, Bhagwat Katha, Shiv Purana every day. One should try to complete the recitation of at least one book in this month.

Along with these, one should visit and worship in temples of mythological importance in this month.

One should also go on pilgrimages and take a bath in a holy river. Those who are not able to take a holy bath in the e rivers should take a bath at their home while meditating on holy rivers like Ganga, Yamuna, Narmada, Shipra. You can also take a bath by mixing Ganga water in water.

Importance of donations in Kharmas
Making donations during Kharmas gives the same virtuous results as taking a holy bath. In this month, the fasts done selflessly to come closer to God one gets eternal results and all the sins of the person observing the fast are eliminated.

During this time, it is also important to serve the needy people, saints and the suffering. Along with making donations in Kharmas, there is also a provision for Shraddha and chanting of mantras. Along with worship, donate money, grains, clothes, shoes and slippers to needy people.

You can donate as per your capacity for green grass and care of cows in a cowshed. Offer worship material to any temple near your house. Pooja materials like kumkum, ghee, oil, abeer, gulal, necklace-flowers, lamp, incense sticks etc.