RV: About the Janmastami feast

[Guest guest]

Camp: Mathura-desa Nama Hattas, Arabian Gulf Area, Middle East, Arabian Sea.

 

My Dear Spiritual Daughter Sridhari dd,

 

Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thankyou for your letter cited below with my comments. I have noted the

contents carefully.

 

> De: Sridhari devi dasi <sridhari (AT) lanet (DOT) com.ar>

> A: JPS answers to KC questions <answers.to.kc.questions (AT) com (DOT) bbt.se>

> Asunto: RV: About the Janmastami feast

> Fecha: Lunes 7 de Septiembre de 1998 16:29

>

> Sridhari (AT) lanet (DOT) com.ar

> Sridhari.JPS (AT) com (DOT) bbt.se

> telef: +54 - 61 - 221806

> Mendoza - Argentina

>

> > agtSSGN

> > agtSP

> > agtYDG,JPS

> >

> > Pamho, I've another question for you from devotees who want to know

if

> > in Janmastami, is necesary to observe an Ekadasi feast, or could it be

a

> > normal feast with grains.

> > Does Srila Prabhupada said something about this?

> >

> > Thank you for your enlightment once again

> >

> > Ys,

> > Sridhari devi dasi

> >

 

In Mayapur Srila Prabhupada instructed us to observe full day non-grain fast

for the appearance day's of Lord Sri Krishna. Since Lord Sri Krishna

appears twice in the year, once as Lord Sri Krishna on Janmastami and the

other day is as Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu on Gaura Purnima on

these two days we observe full grain fast once we break our fast. That

means that on Janmastami we fast until midnight totally and on Gaura Purnima

we fast until moon-rise and then after that have ekadasee type of break-fast

meal. At the prescribed time in the Calender on the next day we break the

grain fast and on that day have a full grain feast. (It is actually much

more practical to feast midday the next day than having a midnight feast

after fasting all day, but that is a side comment.)

 

In many temples, including Mayapur, a full grain feast is offered to guests

and visitors who aren't observing the full fast. Since grains don't contain

sin or anything on that day (it isn't ekadasee, but simply an extra tapasya

the devotees are doing for the pleasure of the Lord) grains are freely

distributed for those who don't fast. All day long in Mayapur we give our

free food to those who want it. The devotees are fasting, but the public

are eating. However the big feast is always the next day.

 

I hope this helps you.

 

I hope that this finds you in good health.

 

Your ever well wisher,

 

Jayapataka Swami