Sri Rama Navami Fastin

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Dear dovotees,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

With few days to go for Sri Rama Navami, there is a controversy of duration

of fasting on that day.

 

>From the time of installation of Sri Sri Sita Rama Lakshman Hanuman deities

in 1978, fasting on Sri Rama Navami is observed till noon in Bombay. Since

couple of years, Vaishnava Calendar produced by BBT mentions fasting till

sunset on Sri Rama navami day. We may safely fast till sunset, but we have

to change the whole program on that day, including abhisek, shoba yatra,

etc. Also we need to give explanation to the congregation and life members

about the discrepancy.

 

ISKCON Bombay managers met and discussed whether fasting should be done till

noon or till sunset. Brajahari prabhu presented from folio search some

apparent reason for fasting till evening.

 

"Tapasya. Just like tomorrow is Sri Rama-navami. The tapasya will be that

all the devotees will observe fasting from morning till evening. This is

called tapasya".

Pandal lecture, Bombay, April 7, 1971

 

"Tamala Krsna: So there will be an initiation on Rama-navami.

Prabhupada: Rama-navami is upavasa up till the... Go to observe fasting up

to the evening.

Tamala Krsna: So moon.

Prabhupada: Sunset".

Room conversation, Bombay, March 26, 1977

 

 

Siddartha prabhu(ACBSP), head pujari, mentioned that he was present in

Bombay for Sri Rama Navami in 1977. Srila Prabhupada initiated devotees in

the pandal pragram at cross maidan, Bombay. Fasting was observed till noon

only. (The above conversation appears to be just before Sri Rama Navami

festival in 1977).

 

Dadi Bakshi prabhu (ACBSP) mentioned that he was initiated by Srila

Prabhupada in Vridaban in 1976 on Sri Rama Navami day. The fasting was

observed till noon only. He also mentioned that Sri Sri Krishna Balaram

mandir in Vridaban was inaugurated on Sri Rama Navami day in 1975 and the

fasting was observed till noon.

 

Two apparent reasons to change fasting time seems very weak. In the above

lecture Srila Prabhupada was talking on the importance of tapasya of

fasting. He is not setting standard of fasting on Sri Rama Navami day. In

the conversation, though Srila Prabhupada spoke about fasting till sunset,

the actual festival few days later was observed in his presence with fasting

till noon.

 

It is also found, though not confirmed, that Lord Ramachandra appeared

around noon.

 

Bhima Prabhu (ACBSP), chairman of the meeting, resolved that in Bombay there

will not be any change to the current system of fasting till noon. He also

constituted a subcommittee to research and find out fasting standards on Sri

Rama Navami day. The committee will presents its finding to BBT for

publication of uniform standard of fasting on Sri Rama Navami.

 

We request Srila Prabhupada's disciples to recall their memories about Sri

Rama Navami fasting during Srila Prabhupada's presence. We also request any

other devotees to provide any information they know about Sri Rama Navami

fasting. This will help us to establish uniform standard of fasting on Sri

Rama Navami in the future.

 

Thanking you,

 

Your servant

 

Mukunda Madhava Das