Fasting in Hinduism indicates the denial of the physical needs of the body
for the sake of spiritual gains. According to the scriptures, fasting helps
create an attunement with the Absolute by establishing a harmonious relationship
between the body and the soul. This is thought to be imperative for the well
being of a human being as it nourishes both his/her physical and spiritual demands.
Hindus believe it is not easy to unceasingly pursue the path of spirituality
in one's daily life. We are harangued by a lot of considerations, and worldly
indulgences do not allow us to concentrate on spiritual attainment. Therefore
a worshipper must strive to impose restrains on himself/herself to get his mind
focused. And one form of restraint is fasting.
Self-Discipline
However, fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for
self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind and the body to endure and
harden up against all hardships, to persevere under difficulties and not give
up. According to Hindu philosophy, food means gratification of the senses and
to starve the senses is to elevate them to contemplation. Luqman, the wise once
said, "When the stomach is full, the intellect begins
to sleep. Wisdom becomes mute and the parts of the body restrain from acts of
righteousness."
Different Kinds of Fasting
- Hindus fast on certain days
of the month such as Purnima (full moon) and Ekadasi (the
11th day of the fortnight).
- Certain days of the week is also marked for fasting, depending on individual
choices and on one's favorite god and goddess.
On Saturday, people fast to appease the god of that day, Shani or Saturn.
Some fast on Tuesdays the auspicious day for Hanuman, the monkey God. On Fridays
devotees of the goddess Santoshi Mata abstain from taking anything citric.
- Fasting at festivals is common. Hindus all over
India observe fast on festivals like Navaratri, Shivratri and Karwa Chauth. Navaratri
is a festival when people fast for nine days. Hindus in West Bengal fast on
Ashtami, the eighth day of the festival of Durga Puja.
- Fasting can also mean abstaining from taking certain things, either for
religious reason or for the sake of good health. For instance, some people
refrain from taking salt on particular days. It is common knowledge that excess
salt and sodium causes hypertention or elevation of blood pressure.
- Another common kind of fast is to forego taking cereals when only fruits
are eaten. Such a diet is known as phalahar.
Ayurvedic Viewpoint
The underlying principle behind fasting is to be found in
Ayurveda.
This ancient Indian medical system sees the basic cause of many diseases as
the accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system. Regular cleansing
of toxic materials keeps one healthy. By fasting, the digestive organs get rest
and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected. A complete fast is good
for heath, and the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of
fasting prevents the flatulence.
Since the human body, as explained by Ayurveda, is composed of 80% liquid and
20% solid, like the earth, the gravitational force of the moon affects the fluid
contents of the body. It causes emotional imbalances in the body, making some
people tense, irritable and violent. Fasting acts as antidote, for it lowers
the acid content in the body which helps people to retain their sanity.
A Non-Violent Protest
From a matter of dietary control, fasting has come to be a handy tool of
societal control. It is a non-violent form of protest. A hunger strike can draw
attention to a grievance and can bring about an emendation or redress. It is
interesting to note that it was Mahatma Gandhi who used fasting to capture people's
attention. There is an anecdote to this: Once the workers at the textile mills
in Ahmedbad were protesting their low wages. Gandhi told them to go on strike.
After two weeks when the workers took to violence, Gandhi himself decided to
go on fast till the matter was resolved.
Fellow-Feeling
Finally, the pangs of hunger that one experiences during fasting make one
think and extend one's sympathy towards the destitute who often go without food.
In this context fasting functions as a societal gain wherein people share with
each other a fellow feeling. Fasting provides an opportunity for the privileged
to give food-grains to the less privileged and alleviate their distress, at
least for the moment.
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