Fasting according to Hindu Religion.

Discussion in 'Chitvish on Hindu Culture & Vedanta' started by Chitvish, May 17, 2007.

  1. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Meena,
    It is nice to receive your F b.
    Yes, filling up the stomach to the brim is best avoided. Not only that, fasting gives rest to our system also ! Believe me, I do not touch chocolates at all, the basic urge is not there at all ! Self control has to be developed gradually over the years, for our own benefit !
    Love,
    Chithra.





     
  2. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Vish,
    Welcome to this thread.
    To fast for 3 weeks is really creditable, I salute you !
    Yes, the light feeling of the body is something to be experienced to be believed, after the fast.
    You seem to be a very determinec person, Vish !
    Thankyou for your F B .
    Love,
    Chithra.




     
  3. mkthpavi

    mkthpavi Senior IL'ite

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    Dear Chithra,

    I think u r some kind of mind reader. This was one question which I thought I shd clarify with you - 'what is the significance of fasting?' !!! And lo...I see your write up already!!!

    I think you hv clarified it very succinctly - fasting not only has spiritual meaning, but can also lead to good health if done properly.

    My mom-in-law observes fast every Tuesday plus on all important religious events, in fact, on all 9 days during Navrathri !!! Knowing that I am working, she suggests that during Navrathri I eat fruits / juice / milk / curd etc on the first and ninth day ... She believes in the power of fasting, more from the sense of spirituality, self-control and closeness to God, I guess....!!


    As a personal experience, when I am fasting (i.e., having mild natural raw food like salads, fruits etc during the day and palagaaram in the night), I actually feel better and hungrier the next day, since my digestive system seems to hv cleared up and rested :) :)

    But yes, all depends on one's social circumstances, esp in work places!

    Thanks for the eye opening write up..

    With love
    Pavithra


     
  4. sudhavnarasimhan

    sudhavnarasimhan Silver IL'ite

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    dear Chitra,
    That was a concise writeup on fasting......i too have no will power i guess like Kamala has said. And we did not have any system followed at home. So never got into that habit .
    But of course now i do for reasons u have suggested, dieting and detox etc.....and have managed with just fruits. But i still am not able to equate to the religious aspect.....of course i believe that we have more time to meditate upon god etc.....but all said and done we still need to cook for the other members of the family, so i wonder where will we have time and of course WILL POWER.....i dont know.....but my daughter has got into this and she learnt from my n-indian friends and did fasting on mondays.....and i kept on my jabbering enquiring if she is alright, its okay etc etc! So i guess it is all about one's own interest and self discipline, belief!:oops:
     
  5. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Pavithra,
    Thanks for the F b. Fasting is a favourite topic in our religion ! Hence I decided to write about it.
    How you fast varies from person to person. In the present day with women working as well, we cannot lay down general rules at all.
    Maharashtrians take Sabudhana kichdi & they have special Vrat Food !
    There is no denying that you feel light the next day, the digestive system having been given adequate rest !
    Self-control, in my personal opinion is the essence of fasting !
    Love,
    Chithra.

     
  6. Hamsadhwani

    Hamsadhwani Senior IL'ite

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    Dear Mrs.C,
    Thanks for the wonderful writeup about Fasting. You have done a great job explaining what the term means spiritually and what are the health benefits of fasting.

    No wonder you are becoming the spiritual consultant of the IL forum!

    Great job!
     
  7. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Sudha,
    Thanks for your f B.
    Yes, we do have to cook for others - our self-control is put to test then ! This comes only by practice. Good that Rosh is trying out - ofcourse she is young enough to experiment also !
    If not for religious purposes, try it for detox atleast once & for our "eternal problem" of weight reduction !
    Love,
    Chithra.

     
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  8. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Hamsadhwani, my sweet named friend,
    Thanks for your F B.
    Please do not call me the spiritual consultant ! I can take bouquets gracefully, but to take the brickbats - I have to go a long way !:)
    Love,
    Chithra.

     
  9. gayathriar

    gayathriar Bronze IL'ite

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    For a few years, I used to fast on tuesday evenings when I just had fruit or milk and my husband still teases me that tuesday evening foods were awful( since I didn't have to eat it )!!!

    But, I have had the benefit of observing my mom( who has been fasting every monday from the time she got married and of late during SankataHaraChaturthi and other such days ), my grandma( 80+ who fasts almost all evenings these days ), a grand uncle who used to strictly fast on Sankata Hara Chathurthi and recently my Gujarathi team-mate, who fasts every monday and eats only sago kichedi and is not tempted by any team-lunch or anything else. There is a lot of motivation around to fast, but just lack of inclination. I really appreciate your statement 'care has to be taken to make sure that we do not become physically weak and hence irritable during fasting' - the people who inspire me in this aspect do not have an iota of irritation when they fast, while I can't say the same about me - :cry:

    The concept of fasting once a week, a rigorous fast once a fortnight on ekadasi on the pretext of spirituality to really cleanse the system is really commendable. I have heard that the reason they had agathikeerai and amla raita on Dwadasi was to offset the effects of fasting on ekadasi.

    If you don't mind, Can you please share PeriyaVaals idea of fasting???

    -Gayathri
     
  10. puni88

    puni88 Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Hi,
    I used to fast before kids.
    But not anymore, I don't have energy and I get severe headache if I don't eat on time.

    Thanks,
    Punitha
     

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