Fw: Earlier question about role of Fasting.

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" Gopi Krishna " <gopi

<vivekananda

Friday, January 05, 2001 03:48

Earlier question about role of Fasting.

 

 

Dear Sir,

 

Pranams.

 

Is it " Upaasana " or " Upavaasa " . Of course, the meaning is same for the both

the words. But the word Upavasa is more in usage than Upasana, I believe. I

am sorry, I am not a well-lettered person to comment upon, especially on

Sanskrit words, but it is only a doubt. The explanation is just wonderful.

Thank you very much.

 

Om

 

Gopi.

 

 

Message: 1

Wed, 3 Jan 2001 19:12:40 -0000

" Vivekananda Centre " <vivekananda

Earlier question about role of Fasting.....

 

======response from Mahdava======

 

Somehow, I am missing reading a lot of personal mails now a days. I am in

serious plans to migrating to USA and hence all this delay. I apologize!

 

In Hinduism we use a word called " upAsana " for Fasting. Fasting literally

means " nirAhAra " in sanskrit. However, we use the word " upAsana " . And

being " nirAhAra " means " going with out food " is a part of this " upAsana " .

 

 

" upAsana " - consists two words " upa " + " aasana " - having a near seat.

Hindus believe that the mortal body will not survive with out food. Please

refer Taittiriya Upanishad, which is a part of our Yajurveda which dates

back to 5000BC as per western historians. In that it says " annaM na

niMdyAt, tad vrataM, annaadvai prajAH prajAyaMtE, atha annEna jeevaMti,

jAtAnynnEna vardhaMti " - it means " Never scold/abuse food, that should be a

vow, because of food only verily all these beings/children are born, they

grow because of food... " . For Hindus the belief is that there is the

consciousness which is sustaining the body. As long as consciousness is

there the body is there. Once the consciousness withdraws then the body

drops, which we call as death. So by giving away the food for a limited

amount of time they make the physical body very week, in order to stay close

to the consciousness by sitting near to the consciousness (jeevAtma is the

word used here).

 

Annagata, pAnagata, piMDagata --- fasting is various kinds in our Hindu

belief. There is no uniform method advised. Just a digression --- For

Hindus the religion is always the most flexible one. As long as you believe

in God, you are free to do things on your wish, things are not contrary to

Dhrama (social law). It is because God has given you a power to wish, you

may wish and live happily. How ever you are forbidden from going against

the wish of the society. Social law you should abide.

 

Some people go with out food and water for 24 hours day, once in a week

through out the year. This is the major practice in Hindusystem. And there

are people who take water but relinquish food for two days a week.

 

The most popular one among Hindus is a Vow called " cAMdrAyaNa " . The most

famous reference to this is in Mahatma Gandhi's book " My experiments with

Truth " . Gandhi's mother used to Fast like this. " cAndrAyana " means

" following the moon path " . They take 15 morsels (one fist full = one

morsel) of food on the full moon day. Then they reduce it to 14, then 13,

then 12.. so on... by they time it is no moon day, they go complete fasting.

They have to see the Moon in order to eat the food. From his mother, Gandhi

got inspired and he used Fasting as an effective method to bring change in

humans.

 

There are many references in our epics Vishnu Purana (3000BC), vAmana

purANa(2500BC) and Padma Purana (3000BC) about Fasting. Especially in the

" Padma Purana " where Lord Shiva teaches his wife Parvati about the

importance of fasting and how many kinds of fasting is observed by devotees.

 

I hope this information is useful. Please do not hesitate to contact me in

case you require any further information.

 

 

I remain yours,

Madhava

 

 

P. Gopi Krishna

South Asia Multidisciplinary Advisory Team (SAAT)

International Labour Organisation (ILO)

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