Fasting according to Hindu Religion.

Dear ChitVish,

Thanks for the wonderful and practical guide to fasting. As everybody in this thread agrees, being "kola patni" only brings on headaches and irritability. My grandmother observes the Krithikai and Shashti Vritham, however she doesn't go without food. She goes on a salt-less diet. She recommended that we avoid onions and garlic and other root vegetables on Tuesdays and we have been following it to this day.

I hear there is one more significance to avoiding root vegetables or eating only Sattvic food according to a Jain friend of mine. It is said that the roots give food to the living organisms under the earth and we do a sin by taking away their food. That is the main reason for Jains to abstain from root veggies and avoiding food after 6 pm. Also during the monsoons (Chaturmasya), both the Hindu and Jain monks abstain from walking outside and other strict diet rules. It is said that the insects and other organisms come out during the monsoon and we might accidently stamp on them. So to avoid this sin, they observe the Chaturmasya Vritham.

What a benevolent, practical and healthy way of life Hinduism is!!

Regards
Vidya

Dear Vidya,
Thankyou for the F b.
Your supplement is ( as usual?) informative & interesting ! Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by vmur

Dear ChitVish,

Thanks for the wonderful and practical guide to fasting. As everybody in this thread agrees, being "kola patni" only brings on headaches and irritability. My grandmother observes the Krithikai and Shashti Vritham, however she doesn't go without food. She goes on a salt-less diet. She recommended that we avoid onions and garlic and other root vegetables on Tuesdays and we have been following it to this day.

I hear there is one more significance to avoiding root vegetables or eating only Sattvic food according to a Jain friend of mine. It is said that the roots give food to the living organisms under the earth and we do a sin by taking away their food. That is the main reason for Jains to abstain from root veggies and avoiding food after 6 pm. Also during the monsoons (Chaturmasya), both the Hindu and Jain monks abstain from walking outside and other strict diet rules. It is said that the insects and other organisms come out during the monsoon and we might accidently stamp on them. So to avoid this sin, they observe the Chaturmasya Vritham.

What a benevolent, practical and healthy way of life Hinduism is!!

Regards
Vidya

Dear Chithra,
Very informative and pratical piece of writing as usual. I planned to fast on ekadasis from this month, mostly to reduce weight and keep a sound health.Added bonus is the PDF file.Really appreciate the efforts you take to upload it for us.



Thank you! Thank you! Thankyou!

Dear Chithra Madam, Nice discussions on fasting. I use to skip my breakfasts on thursdays before marriage and pray to Sai baba and visit the temple every thursday. After marriage i couldn't continue b'cos we stayed far away from temple. Then started Sasti vridam on Shasti days would take pasi paruppu payasam after neivaidiyam and eat light meal for lunch and dinner without onions and garlic. Observe full day fast on Maha sivarathri day and Gokulastami day and eat light meal after pooja in the night. Not able to observe fast on Ekadesi days. We feel nice the whole day chanting the God's name on the fasting days. But some people fast and keep shouting at their husband and children which is of no use. It better not to fast at all. Fasting should make us pure and should keep our mind clear of all the ills. Thanks for starting a nice topic.

Best Regards, Sujatha

Dear Aishu,
Thankyou for the feedback.
Do fasting on ekadasi, without straining yourself physically when you are a working woman. Please do not tire yourself; it is not worth at all.
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by aishu22

Dear Chithra,
Very informative and pratical piece of writing as usual. I planned to fast on ekadasis from this month, mostly to reduce weight and keep a sound health.Added bonus is the PDF file.Really appreciate the efforts you take to upload it for us.



Thank you! Thank you! Thankyou!

Dear Sujatha,
Thanks for joining us here.
You are very right when you say that there is no point in losing our temper or getting irritated on fasting days. The the family will dread if we announce, we are going to fast !
We must accept our limitations in every aspect of life - it is very important.
Love,
Chithra.




quote=sujathae;66681]Dear Chithra Madam, Nice discussions on fasting. I use to skip my breakfasts on thursdays before marriage and pray to Sai baba and visit the temple every thursday. After marriage i couldn't continue b'cos we stayed far away from temple. Then started Sasti vridam on Shasti days would take pasi paruppu payasam after neivaidiyam and eat light meal for lunch and dinner without onions and garlic. Observe full day fast on Maha sivarathri day and Gokulastami day and eat light meal after pooja in the night. Not able to observe fast on Ekadesi days. We feel nice the whole day chanting the God's name on the fasting days. But some people fast and keep shouting at their husband and children which is of no use. It better not to fast at all. Fasting should make us pure and should keep our mind clear of all the ills. Thanks for starting a nice topic.

Best Regards, Sujatha[/quote]

Dear Chithra,

I go with Kamla in this matter! Fasting is not my cup of tea! I went through the same experiences and mood swings as Kamla on the days that I fasted( before my marriage!).But certainly, I am not against people who fast.

Dear Malathy,
Thanks for joining us here.
Don't you ever think, I am a great faster! No, not at all.
Of late, I have started getting used to "whole-day fruit diet", which I am able to tolerate. Perhaps the sugar in the fruits give the required energy !
Love,
Chithra.

Dear Meenu,
I seem to have missed answering your post, sorry.
Not only the intention to fast , but the execution has to be smooth, without getting on others' nerves !
It is easily said than done !
Love,
Chithra.

Originally Posted by meenu

dear chithra,
Ihave always appreciated thetopicsyou select. This one indeed is fine. I agree with you totally that fasting can be done when you feel like andkeeping away from cooked food is a pracitcally good idea. It gives a change of routine and time for rethinking. you hit the nail on the head when you said that fasting makes people irritable and as you say the intention has to be good and will -power strong to continually fast.
regards,
meenu

Hi Chitra,
I am new to this forum. Its great to find such a discussion board. I was actually searching for an answer to amy query when i came across this site. Well, I recently started fasting on Mondays and I think there are lot many ways to do so like eating only sweet or one meal without any onions/garlic. My question is that when we are having one full meal with vegetables and all then why no onions? Why onions/garlic are refrained during fasts?