Chandrayana Vrata.....

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Fasting on New Moon's Eve

 

There are many very ancient, traditional forms of Fasting (Upavasana). One of the most ancient ones, known as Chandrayana, is observed for a whole month. It consists in reducing the amount of food which totals fifteen mouthfuls on Full Moon, by one mouthful daily until New Moon when the fast becomes complete and then increasing it in the same manner from the day after New Moon to Full Moon. Complete abstinence from food is also observed for one, three, six, nine or twelve days according to each person's capacity and inclination.

 

Among the most auspicious times for fasting are the days of Full and New Moon as well as the eighth and the twenty-third of each month (counting from the first day after New Moon). New Moon Day (Amavasya) is that day of the lunar month which begins when the last crescent of the Moon becomes invisible at dawn - for which reason it may accurately be called No Moon Day. The night before this, that is, New Moon's Eve, is the Sacred Night of Shiva (Shiva Ratri) which is also known as The Fourteenth Day of Shiva (Shiva-Chaturdashi) and The Dark Night of Shiva (Shiva Kalaratri). Fasting during the day and night on this auspicious occasion is particularly meritorious, and is observed for the expiation of sins as well as for acquiring religious merit.

 

Thus it is written in the Shiva Purana: "O Sages! on the thirteenth day of the dark half of the month, one meal only shall be taken (by the devotee). But on the fourteenth, complete fast shall be observed. The fourteenth of the dark half is sure to bring about the propitiation of Lord Shiva".

 

Even greater merit is acquired by fasting on New Moon's Eve in the month of Phalguna (or Magha, in the South Indian calendar). This is known as the Great Night of Shiva or Maha Shivaratri and is the most important holiday in Yoga. In India, this annual holiday may begin as early as a fortnight before New Moon, thus lasting for sixteen days in total, from the first day after Full Moon to the first day after New Moon. Says the Shiva Purana: "In the Month of Phalguna, in the Star Uttara-Phalguni, let the Great Festival of Shiva (Maha Utsava) commence".

 

Maha Shivaratri proper falls on the 14th of the dark fortnight in February or March, which is usually the 3rd New Moon's Eve from the Winter Solstice (22 December) and a fortnight before the Festival of Holy (and the beginning of Indian Lunar Year).