Most devout Hindus fast (उपवासः) regularly or on special occasions like festivals & also on the 11th day of the fortnight in the Hindu month i.e. एकादशी. On such days one does not eat at all or eat once or do it with fruits & milk or a special diet of simple food. Fasting in Sanskrit is called उपवासः which means staying near the God, i.e. the attainment of close mental proximity with the God.
A lot of our time & energy is spent in producing food items, preparing, cooking, eating & digesting food. Certain food types make our minds dull & distress. Hence, on certain days Hindus decides to save time & conserve the energy by eating either simple, light food or totally abstaining from eating so that, their mind becomes alert & pure. The mind thus, creates noble thoughts & stays with the God. Since it is a self-imposed form of discipline it is usually attached to joy. Also, every system needs a break & repair to work at its best. Rest & change of diet during fasting (उपवासः) is very good for the digestive system & the entire body. The more you indulge the senses, the more they make their demands. Fasting (उपवासः) helps us to cultivate control over our senses, redirect our desires & guide our minds to be steady & at peace. Fasting (उपवासः) should not make us weak, irritable or create longing to indulge later. This happens when there is no noble goal behind fasting (उपवासः).
Fasting (उपवासः) in Hinduism indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body for the sake of spiritual attainment. According to the Scriptures, fasting (उपवासः) helps create proximity with the Highest Reality (i.e. ब्रह्मन्) by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body & the soul. This is essential for the well-being of a human being as it nourishes both, physical & spiritual demands. It is not easy to constantly pursue the path of spirituality in one's daily life. The worldly indulgences do not allow us to concentrate on spiritual attainment. Therefore, a worshiper must strive to impose self-control to get the mind focused. This form of control is fasting (उपवासः).
Different Kinds of Fasting (उपवासः) -
Hindus fast (उपवासः) on certain days of the month such as;
1. The 4th day of the fortnight in the Hindu month i.e. चतुर्थी or संकष्टचतुर्थी or अंगारकी चतुर्थी or विनायक/ गणेश चतुर्थी.
2. The 11th day of the fortnight in the Hindu month i.e. एकादशी.
3. The 13th day of the fortnight in the Hindu month i.e. प्रदोषः.
4. The full moon day i.e. पूर्णिमा.
5. Certain days of the week are also marked for fasting (उपवासः), depending on individual choices & on one's favourite Gods & Goddesses, like;
(a.) Some fast on Mondays, the auspicious day of Lord Shiva.
(b.) Some fast on Tuesdays, the auspicious day of Lord Ganesha.
(c.) Some fast on Thursdays, the auspicious day of Lord Duttatreya.
(d.) Some fast on Fridays, the auspicious day of Goddesses.
6. Fasting (उपवासः) on festivals is common. Hindus all over India observe fast on festivals like;
(a.) नवरात्रि - it is a festival when people fast for nine days. Some Hindus fast on अष्टमी - the eighth day of the festival of नवरात्रि.
(b.) महाशिवरात्रि -14th day of the dark fortnight of Magh month.
(c.) वट सावित्री व्रतम् - it is observed by married women for the long life of their husband on the full moon day of the Jyeshtha month.
(d.) होलिका दहनम् - on the full moon day of the Falgun month, the devotees burn Holika in the evening & after doing puja rituals the devotees eat food.
(e.) जया-पार्वती व्रतम् also known as गौरी व्रतम् - it is observed by non-married girls for the attainment of good husband & it is observed for five days from the 12th day to the full moon day of the Ashadha month.
(f.) जन्माष्टमी - on the birth day of Lord Krishna which takes place on the 8th day of the dark fortnight of the Shravana month.
(g.) केतकी त्रीज - on the 3rd day of Bhadarva month & is observed by married women for the long life of their husband.
(h.) Karwa Chauth- it is observed by married women for the long life of their husband.
Fasting (उपवासः) can also mean abstaining from eating only certain things, either for religious reason or for the sake of good health. For instance, some people refrain from consuming salt on particular days. It is common knowledge that excess salt & sodium causes hypertension or elevation of blood pressure. Another common kind of fast (उपवासः) is to do without taking cereals when only fruits are eaten. Such a diet is known as फलाहारः & mostly this फलाहारः fasting (उपवासः) is observed in Hinduism.
Self-Discipline & Fasting (उपवासः) -
However, fasting (उपवासः) is not only a part of worship but a great instrument for self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind & the body to endure & harden up against all hardships, to continue under difficulties & not give up. According to Hindu philosophy, food means fulfilment of the senses & to starve, the senses is to promote them to contemplation.
Ayurveda & Fasting (उपवासः) -
The ancient Indian medical system sees the basic cause of many diseases as the gathering of toxic materials in the digestive system. Regular cleansing of toxic materials keeps one healthy. By fasting (उपवासः), the digestive organs get rest & all body mechanisms are cleansed. A complete fast is good for heath, & the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of fasting prevents gastric problem.
Since the human body, as explained by Ayurveda, is composed of 80 percent liquid & 20 percent solid like the earth, the gravitational force of the moon affects the fluid contents of the body. Fasting (उपवासः) acts as an antidote, for it lowers the acid content in the body which helps people to maintain the balance.
Scientific concept of fasting (उपवासः) during Navratri -
During Navratri period, there is a change of season & food. When there is a lot of change it is normal that our body also experiences some significant changes. During this time of the year, the digestion process is comparatively slow & hence the person tends to feel lazy, lethargic & dull. Therefore, it is advised that even if you do not fast (उपवासः) during Navratri you should go low on food. Moreover, during this time our body’s immunity is low. Eating high-energy foods like meat, eggs & alcohol can make you prone to diseases.
Scientific reasons for observing fast (उपवासः) -
1. Fasting (उपवासः) helps to cleanse & detoxify the body thereby, giving rest to its vital organs.
2. Some health benefits of fasting (उपवासः) are purification of the gastro-intestinal tract, cleansing of the organs & promoting in metabolism.
3. During fasting (उपवासः), the digestive system goes into the rest phase. The rest to the intestines & related organs enables them to function better.
4. Also when you are fasting (उपवासः), bloating will disappear. As an added benefit, the process can help you lose those extra kilos.
5. Fasting (उपवासः) also helps to improve blood sugar control, which is especially useful for those at risk of diabetes.
6. It also enhance heart health by improving blood pressure & cholesterol levels.
7. It also helps to reduced risk of chronic health conditions.
8. It improves boosting brain function & prevent neuro-degenerative disorder.
9. Fasting (उपवासः) also improves the immune system.
10. Fasting (उपवासः) rejuvenates the skin & prevents acne as it gives the body a break from digestion, allowing the body to expand more energy on regulating & improving the function of other organs such as the liver, the kidney & the skin.
11. Fasting (उपवासः) also helps in preventing cancer, as it helps the body to eliminate some toxins from cells, the absence of toxic substances within the cells reduces the risk of formation within the cells.
Thus, the physical denial of the needs of the appetite is necessary & beneficial to advance the spiritual goals. Fasting (उपवासः) manifests the positive values within & cultivate those virtues that will enable the intellectual & spiritual evolution. The practice of fasting (उपवासः) is not only religiously approved but it is also connected scientifically in Hinduism.
आषाढः शुक्लपक्षे ९, २०७६