Advice needed regarding fasting

[ScottMalaysia]

I keep a fast on Tuesdays in honour of the Goddess. It's a South Indian practice (North Indian people fast on Tuesdays in honour of Hanuman). While I haven't made a formal vow to fast, I did promise the Holy Mother that I would only drink water while fasting.

However, today my wife and I were waiting for our food in a vegetarian restaurant. I was fasting since I'd broken it yesterday. The waitress brought us some free Chinese tea, which I drank without thinking.

What should I do? Should I 1) Fast on Friday to make up for it, or 2) Eat normally tomorrow but drink only water, or 3) Abstain from drinking any liquids while eating normally tomorrow?

I have told the Holy Mother in prayer that I'll be guided by your replies.

[Eastern Mind]

Vanakkam Scott:

In one sense its: "Why ask us? Decide for yourself. You don't need us to figure this one out for you. The nature of Hinduism is Self inquiry.

If it were me I'd do one of two things: Totally forget about it and accept it as human folly, or... make up for it later by some other method until I personally felt satisfied with the inner communication between myself and the goddess.

In a recent conversation I had with a Muslim I worked with, I asked about missing the daily round of 5 prayers to Mecca, and what to do...(Job interview, mental distraction, overwhelming illness, birth of a child, etc.) He said they just make it up (time wise) during the next round. Of course we aren't Islamic.

Aum Namasivaya

[kshama]

Namaskar ScottMalaysia,

In my opinion, sometimes out of impulse, things happen (regarding fasting). It takes time to be disciplined. Do not be afraid, Devi won't condemn you for this trivial thing. Just make sure, next time you will fast carefully. God bless you.

[kshama]

I keep a fast on Tuesdays in honour of the Goddess. It's a South Indian practice (North Indian people fast on Tuesdays in honour of Hanuman). While I haven't made a formal vow to fast, I did promise the Holy Mother that I would only drink water while fasting.

However, today my wife and I were waiting for our food in a vegetarian restaurant. I was fasting since I'd broken it yesterday. The waitress brought us some free Chinese tea, which I drank without thinking.

What should I do? Should I 1) Fast on Friday to make up for it, or 2) Eat normally tomorrow but drink only water, or 3) Abstain from drinking any liquids while eating normally tomorrow?

I have told the Holy Mother in prayer that I'll be guided by your replies.

Namaskar ScottMalaysia Ji,

Devi is epitome of compassion. The next time around, do make sure you follow your fast correctly. There is no need to be remorseful because you forgot things. Good luck in your fasts.

[Shaan]

Fast for goddess is on friday as its related to planet venus and venus is form of goddess giving bhog and moksh at same time.

U arent supposed to eat anything sour in the goddess fast.

The basic of vrat was to keep japa all the day, and doing 4 times poojan with utmost shuddhi. Food was only barred because when we eat food we make the body ashudh, and can have bad smells and sweating because of it, But the current scenario only leaving food is called vrat, which it isnt.

If you can take a leave for vrat and do the complete process of 4 time poojan and japa all the day, without having food inbetween, and have the vrat udyapan in the provided way only then a vrat can be considered fulfilled, otherwise its just a satisfaction thing.

[Eastern Mind]

Fast for goddess is on friday as its related to planet venus and venus is form of goddess giving bhog and moksh at same time.

U arent supposed to eat anything sour in the goddess fast.

The basic of vrat was to keep japa all the day, and doing 4 times poojan with utmost shuddhi. Food was only barred because when we eat food we make the body ashudh, and can have bad smells and sweating because of it, But the current scenario only leaving food is called vrat, which it isnt.

If you can take a leave for vrat and do the complete process of 4 time poojan and japa all the day, without having food inbetween, and have the vrat udyapan in the provided way only then a vrat can be considered fulfilled, otherwise its just a satisfaction thing.

Shaan: Welcome to these forums. It is always good to get more opinions or perspectives from new people. I have a couple of suggestions for your posts if you don't mind, as I am having difficulty understanding.
1) We are not all Hindi speakers here, so sometimes there are words I (and probably others) don't get. In the above post for example, I don't know vrat, poojan, ashudh, udyapan, or bhog. I assume they are Hindi or Sanskrit. Perhaps I am wrong. If you could provide the English equivalent, I would be grateful.
2) Other than direct quotes from works of masters, everything here is opinion. (Yes, even a translation of a Sanskrit text is in part a reflestion of the translator) However, it often sounds like you are expressing teachings, as if they were fact. Most people, to acknowledge this, occasionally at least, start their statements with phrases like,"in my humble opinion: or "from the Vedanta perspective" at least some of the time. Otherwise it sounds sort of belittling or condescending. Trust me, many people here do know what they are talking about. We are not all ignorant fools who need someone's help to gain knowledge.

If you came here to teach us or persuade us of your views as a goal, then it is the wrong place. If you came here to humbly share your perspectives AND to listen to other perspectives so that you can yourself develop, then you are in the right place.

Aum Namasivaya

[sambya]

dont worry about such trivial matters . god is ever merciful and does not take offense for such petty things . if she would then that would mean that she succumbs to anger . this in turn would mean that she is an imperfect entity -- and hence not god .

maa never takes offenses . check out this beautifull stotra for understanding her never ending love and what should be our correct mood to call her out .

one sadhak once said to me --- " never raise maa to the status of 'devi' . the moment u do your intimate relation with her would get destroyed . always think of her as your own mother , not the divine mother " .





Na mantram no yantram thadapi cha na jane sthuthimaho,
Na chahwanam dhyanam thadapi cha na jane sthuthi kadha,
Na jane mudrasthe thadapi na jane vilapanam,
Param jane matha thwadanusaranam klesa haranam. 1

Neither I know mantra nor thanthra nor your praise,
Neither I know how to call you, nor meditate nor praise you,
Neither I know mudras nor how to cry to you,
But I know that by obeying you, I would get rid of all problems.

Vidhera gnanena dravina virahena alasathaya,
Vidheyasakya thaw thava charanayor yachyathirabhooth,
Hadethath kshanthavyam anani sa kalodharini shive,
Kuputhro jayetha kwachidapi, kumatha na bhavathi. 2

I forgot to salute your feet due to ignorance of rules,
Due to having no money, being lazy and inefficient.
Oh, mother of all the world and giver of all that is good,
It is easy for you to excuse me,
For a bad son may be born but there can be no bad mother.

Pruthvya puthrasthe janai bahava ssanthi sarala,
Param thesham madhye virala tharaloham thava sutha,
Madheeyoayam thyagasamuchidamidham, no thava shive,
Kuputhro jayetha, kwachidapi kumatha na bhavathi. 3

Oh mother, you have many great sons in this wide world,
And in their midst I happen to be retarded and lost,
But oh mother, it is not proper for you to leave me out,
For a bad son may be born but there can be no bad mother.

Jaganmata mathasthava charana sevanarachitha,
Nava datham devi dravinamapi bhooyasthava maya,
Thadapi thwam sneham mayi nirupamam,
Kuputhro jayetha, kwachidapi kumatha na bhavathi. 4

Oh, God of all worlds, Neither have I done service at your feet,
Nor have I given in charity immeasurable wealth,
But you have to shower your incomparable affection on me,
For a bad son may be born but there can be no bad mother.

Parithyakthwa devaan vividha vidha sevakulathaya,
Maya pancha seetherr adhikam apanithethu vayasi,
Idhanim chenmathasthava yadhi krupanapi bhavitha,
Niralambo lambodara janani kam yami saranam 5

In this age past fifty, leaving the worship of other devas,
Due to several problems of service and worries,
I have approached you for your grace.
If you do not take mercy on me at this stage,
What is the protection for me who is without any support.

Chida Basma lepo garala samanam, dik pata dharo,
Jadadhari kande bujagapathi hari pasupathi,
Kapali bhootheso bajathi jagadeesaika padavim,
Bhavani thwad panigrahana paripati phalamidham. 6

That god Pasupathi who applies ash from cremation ground,
Who eats poison, who wears no cloths,
Who wears a garland of serpent and who has a begging bowl,
Who has not washed or combed his hair and who is god of devils,
Has attained the position of the Lord of the universe.
Is it not Bhavani, because he has married you?

Na mokshasyakamksha na cha vibhava vanchapi cha na me,
Na vignanapeksha Sasimukhi Sukheschapi na puna,
Athasthwam samyache janani jananam yathu mama vai,
Mrudani rudrani shiva shiva bhavani japatha. 7

I am not interested in salvation nor in great wealth,
I am not interested in knowledge, science or pleasures,
Hey mother, I beg of you that I should spend this life,
Chanting thy names like Mrudani, Rudrani and Bhavani.

Naradhithasi vidhina vividhopacharai,
Kim rooksha chintana parair na krutham vachopi,
Syame thwameva yadhi kinchanamayyanadhe,
Danye krupamuchitham amba param thavaiva. 8

Oh Mother, Syama, I have never worshipped thee,
Following the rules laid out for worship,
And also I have abused you by using cruel words,
And still if you have a little mercy on this orphan,
It is because of your graceful and merciful conduct.

Jagadamba, vichithramathra kim,
Paripoorna karunasthi chenmayi,
Aparadha parampara vrutham,
Nahi matha samupekshathe sutham. 9

Hey mother of the world,
Why is it surprising that you,
Have lot of mercy on me,
For no mother neglects her son,
Even if he has done several mistakes.

Mathsama pathaki Nasthi,
Papagni thathsama nahi ,
Evam gnathwa maha devi,
Yadayogyam thadha kuru. 10

There is no sinner like me,
Nor is there anyone like you,
Who can pardon all these great sins,
Oh goddess great, understand these both,
And do whatever you think is fit.