Why Fast?
Fasting
in Hinduism indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake
of spiritual gains. According to the scriptures, fasting helps create an
attunement with the Absolute by establishing a harmonious relationship between
the body and the soul. This is thought to be imperative for the well being of a
human being as it nourishes both his/her physical and spiritual demands.
Hindus
believe it is not easy to unceasingly pursue the path of spirituality in one's
daily life. We are harangued by a lot of considerations, and worldly
indulgences do not allow us to concentrate on spiritual attainment. Therefore a
worshipper must strive to impose restrains on himself/herself to get his mind
focused. And one form of restraint is fasting.
Self-Discipline
However, fasting is not only a part of worship,
but a great instrument for self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind
and the body to endure and harden up against all hardships, to persevere under
difficulties and not give up. According to Hindu philosophy, food means
gratification of the senses and to starve the senses is to elevate them to
contemplation. Luqman, the wise once said, "When the stomach is full, the
intellect begins to sleep. Wisdom becomes mute and the parts of the body
restrain from acts of righteousness."
Different Kinds of Fasting
Hindus
fast on certain days of the month such asPurnima (full moon) and Ekadasi (the 11th day of the fortnight).
Certain
days of the week is also marked for fasting, depending on individual choices
and on one's favorite God and Goddess. On Saturday, people fast to appease the God of that
day,
Shani or Saturn. Some fast on Tuesdays the auspicious day for Hanuman, the
monkey God. On Fridays devotees of the goddess Santoshi Mata abstain from
taking anything citric.
Fasting
at festivals is common. Hindus all over India
observe fast on festivals like Navaratri, Shivratri and Karwa Chauth.. Navaratri is a festival when
people fast for nine days. Hindus in West Bengal fast on Ashtami, the eighth
day of the festival of Durga Puja.
Fasting
can also mean abstaining from taking certain things, either for religious
reason or for the sake of good health. For instance, some people refrain from
taking salt on particular days. It is common knowledge that excess salt and
sodium causes hypertention or elevation of blood pressure.
Another
common kind of fast is to forego taking cereals when only fruits are eaten.
Such a diet is known as phalahar.
Ayurvedic Viewpoint
The underlying principle behind fasting is to
be found in Ayurveda. This
ancient Indian medical system sees the basic cause of many diseases as the
accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system. Regular cleansing of
toxic materials keeps one healthy. By fasting, the digestive organs get rest
and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected. A complete fast is good for
heath, and the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of
fasting prevents the flatulence.
Since
the human body, as explained by Ayurveda, is composed of 80% liquid and 20%
solid, like the earth, the gravitational force of the moon affects the fluid
contents of the body. It causes emotional imbalances in the body, making some
people tense, irritable and violent. Fasting acts as antidote, for it lowers
the acid content in the body which helps people to retain their sanity.
A
Non-Violent Protest
From a matter of dietary control, fasting has
come to be a handy tool of societal control. It is a non-violent form of
protest. A hunger strike can draw attention to a grievance and can bring about
an emendation or redress. It is interesting to note that it was Mahatma Gandhi
who used fasting to capture people's attention. There is an anecdote to this:
Once the workers at the textile mills in Ahmedbad were protesting their low
wages. Gandhi told them to go on strike. After two weeks when the workers took
to violence, Gandhi himself decided to go on fast till the matter was resolved.
Fellow-Feeling
Finally, the pangs of hunger that one
experiences during fasting make one think and extend one's sympathy towards the
destitute who often go without food. In this context fasting functions as a
societal gain wherein people share with each other a fellow feeling. Fasting
provides an opportunity for the privileged to give food-grains to the less
privileged and alleviate their distress, at least for the moment.
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