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Fasting has been considered to be one of the essential ingredients of
religious observances. It is conducive to the transference of the
consciousness from one’s physical body to one’s own astral body in that,
the physical sufferings like extreme hunger or thirst consequent to going
without food or water, enhances the intellectual and mental strength,
adducing to the fact that the intellect controls the mind and the latter
controls the cognitive senses and those of action. Since the physical body
depends for its life on the coincidence with the astral body, the latter is
stronger than it and, lasts so long as it is permeated by the causal body,
with the Self residing in it, but ultimately it is the Self which provides
life and power to one’s causal, astral and the physical bodies. Thus, shifting
the consciousness from the physical to the astral is a step towards the
realization of the Self.
In this connection, while replying to the query of a disciple as to
how one can subdue the sense of taste, Bhagavan Swaminarayan says
that it can be done by controlling one’s diet and by avoiding one’s favorite
food, that overcoming the sense of taste will automatically subdue the
other senses of cognition and those of action. Further, while showing
correct way of dieting, He observes that one’s diet cannot be controlled
by merely observing several fasts consecutively. That only increases one’s
desires and diet, because when one breaks a fast, one tends to eat twice
as much. But, if a person begins to reduce his diet gradually, it can be
controlled. For example, even though clouds cause rain to fall in tiny
drops, water still collects in a large quantity. Similarly, one should control
one’s diet gradually as a result of which the senses (indriyas) will also be
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controlled. Then, if one lovingly engages in devotion (bhakti), one can
remain in Satsang, till the end. This is a fact (Gadhada III-32).
In this connection, I may be allowed to cite my own technique and
experience. If you can join the name of one’s favorite deity with one’s
own heart-beats, one gradually feels them whenever one’s mind in not
engaged in any mental work, and it goes on for twenty-four hours of a
day till the end of one’s life. This helps much in controlling not only the
senses, but also the mind, because whenever it tries to waver or go astray,
the ever felt memory of God’s name checks and stops it. This helps in
observing the fast which is in fact undertaken for pleasing God, and
God is pleased with penance which ultimately helps in the observance
of the Five Vows (panch vartaman) for the sadhus, viz. nishkam –
eightfold celibacy (brahmacharya), nissneha – non-attachment, nirman
– non-ego, niswad –non-taste, and nirlobha – non-avariciousness. Along
with these Five Vows, one needs full and unwavering faith (nishhtha)
and invariable resorting (asharay) to God in all walks of life, and one-
pointed devotion (ekantiki bhakti). All these combined constitute the
path to liberation from the cycle of rebirths, and qualifies for entry into
the Akshardham, the residence of God.
I congratulate Mohini Sethi and Barkha Jain for undertaking an
unprecedented task of revealing the scientific base of the various vows
of fasting and feasting in all the major and minor religious faiths of the
world. The authors deserve the encomiums from all of us, and from all
the religious heads of the world, as it provides a scientific backing to
enhance the inspiration of those interested in undertaking and observing
various vows, irrespective of their particular religious faith.
N. M. Kansara
Director, AARSH, Akshardham,
Gandhinagar.
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Festivals have always been an integral part of Indian culture, but their
perceptions have changed over time to keep in line with changes in
living styles and the resulting environment.
Fasting and Feasting is the result of research conducted to understand
why people resorted to these practices the way they did in ancient times,
and analyze the changes that have affected the manner in which these
are observed today. Several customs of the past persist, some without
any logical reason, among families and communities in different regions
of our country. The customs of fasting and feasting have changed over
the decades, although habits of observing them as rituals on special
days have been passed down through generations.
Research conducted revealed that several trends in fasting and
feasting are followed among households covering all age groups. The
majority of women showed ignorance regarding the purpose for which
they resorted to these practices. Generally, they reported it as a traditional
household practice which they were carrying on just as any household
profession which was passed down in joint or undivided families.
In nuclear households with working women however, these traditional
practices were modified to suit their working routines. Other findings
indicated that many of the traditional practices were dropped for various
reasons in the garb of modernization. Further, a trend was evident through
which fasting was practiced for social reasons, an occasion for women to
move out of their homes in groups to meet, even though only to temples
or for community celebrations and festivities.
