Dear Swami and devotees, I have question about following Caturmasya. Should we observe it, and if it so, please give us some advice. Thank you.
There is a thread on this in the Audarya Notes-section, but it would be interesting to hear more about the topic. I personally think that it is useful to follow these kinds of vratas, but as far as I've understood, Swami does not emphasise Caturmasya.
Thakura Bhaktivinoda includes observance of the entire caturmasya within the 58th anga of vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti, which Sri Rupa says involves observance of urjja vrata, or Karttika—the last month of caturmasya). Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura certainly took this seriously. However, neither Pujyapada Sridhara Deva Goswami (at the end of his life) nor Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada stressed it for their disciples. Nor did they observe it personally, other than superficially.
Typically Sri Rupa has extracted from caturmasya that which is most pertinent to Krsna-bhakti and emphasized it alone. Many things can be derived from observing caturmasya vows, but obeservance of Karttika grants Krsna-bhakti. Thus it in particular is a limb of vaidhi-sadhana-bhakti. It would be interesting to hear why Thakura Bhaktivinoda extended this vrata to include the entire caturmasya and why Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhuapda observed it so strictly.
I must admit that I have not researched it. Bhrighupada?
I haven't researched the development of the observance of Caturmasya. There is a fairly large portion on it in the HBV, but there are of course many things there not observed by Gaudiyas today. I'm speculating here, but I think that Bhaktisiddhanta's emphasis on it was to show the smartas that Gaudiyas also follow strict rules. In Bengal, as in many places in Asia, following many rules is a common way to gain social respect. The more rules the better person! In Bhaktivinoda's and Bhaktisiddhanta's times, it was common for Gaudiyas to de-emphasise rules and regulations on the plea of raganuga-sadhana, something that they of course could see neither helped GV sadhakas or gave the religion as a whole a very good reputation.
As far as my experience goes, Caturmasya is not emphasised a lot in the Gaudiya Mathas. The minimum rules are followed (no sak, etc) + they desist from tomatoes and eggplants for the whole time (both which are considered "opulent" vegetables, rarely used). Urjavrata is then another thing, when everybody is encouraged and almost expected to take other, personal vows.