Fasting

[Eric11235]

Vannakam,

As part of my new years resolution and increasing need to show my devotion, I have set aside at least one day of every month for fasting. My question is simple. Which days would be best for fasting?

Also, what are Ekadashi and Pradosham?

Any help in this matter is appreciated greatly

Namaste

[Eastern Mind]

Vannakkam Eric: We went to Pradosha puja at our temple last night, and usually go. In short, its a time when you can feel Siva's energy more easily. Yes it would be a great time to fast.

Aum Namasivaya

[AmIHindu]

Namaste,

Hindu people do many fasting.
Weekly fast.
Sunday - for Durga Ma.
Monday - Mahadev.
Tuesday - Durga ma , Hanuman ji
Thurday - Students fast for Ma Sarswati, other fast for Sai baba, and Guru Dattatreya.
Saturday - Hanuman ji, Shanidev
Depending on faith and devotion, people fast.
Manytimes astrologers ask to fast on certain specific days due to some problem with planets in horoscope.

Monthly fast.

Assthmi, Ekadashi and Full Moon day, Navmi, chaturthi.
Above days can be found in Hindu calendar.

Specific days to fast

Day of Mahashivratri, Day Ramnavmi,JDay of janmastmi, Day of Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi.

There may be many more depending on particular culture ( Marathi, Bengoli, Gujarati, Tamil,Telugu,Punjabi.....) the state.

Different type of fast.

Do not eat anything whole day and night.
Full plate lunch or dinner once in a day.
Eat fruits only.
Eat salt once only in day.
Do not speak on the day of fast.
Do not seat on the day of fast.
Eat only particular grain once on the day of fast.

I know I gave you so much of information but do not get confused. Select what you are comfortable with you. Try to do fast with faith, you will not feel hungry whole day.

[Eric11235]

Vannakam,

Just completed my first successful fast, It feels good

[Eric11235]

I abstained from all food and drink for a period of 24 hours

[Eastern Mind]

I abstained from all food and drink for a period of 24 hours

Vannakkam: Even no water? Awesome.

Its been a long time for me, because I used to get migraines. (Nasty ones, worse than the alcohol induced ones in adolescence) I should try again one of these days. I do remember how it makes you feel good.

Maybe this will inspire me. Thanks

Aum Namasivaya

[Sahasranama]

Vannakkam: Even no water? Awesome.

Its been a long time for me, because I used to get migraines. (Nasty ones, worse than the alcohol induced ones in adolescence) I should try again one of these days. I do remember how it makes you feel good.

Maybe this will inspire me. Thanks

Aum Namasivaya

The migraines can be withdrawal symptons, the brain gets addicted to sugars. I have had migraines too in the beginning, but they go away after a while. You can also start gradually with a 16 hour fast until you can fast for entire day.

[Eastern Mind]

The migraines can be withdrawal symptons, the brain gets addicted to sugars. I have had migraines too in the beginning, but they go away after a while. You can also start gradually with a 16 hour fast until you can fast for entire day.

Vannakkam Saha: Back then, about 20 + years ago, they would come on about 3 PM, on a normal day, just in time to wreck my evening, and next day, and maybe next. I did experiment with taking honey, and other things. Its been so long I'd need to experiment all over again, starting from scratch.

I find the body shifts over time a lot. I'm retired now too, so there is less stress from that. Migraines are odd things, and I haven't had one in a long time. One might think it was coffee(yes, I drink it) withdrawal, but on the Indian pilgrimages, I had no withdrawal symptoms, and you basically can't get real coffee there, so that counts that one out.

Maybe tomorrow I'll fast and find out. Maybe just fruits, and see how that goes.

Aum Namasivaya

[Flowing Along]

Namaste Eric
No food or drink for 24 hours is an amazing feat indeed.
.I ve seen older people in my family fast regularly.
In fact their favorite line is " Lankanam parama oushadam" [ Fasting is the best medicine]
Some of my relatives live on just fruits for 6 days of Skanda Shasti.About four -six small bananas per day.
I avoid sugar for a 15 day period-I discovered the body needs very little sugar for sustenance but the monkey mind needs more sugar .Moreover someone you havent heard of in 15 years turns up with some sweets and you know it is a test.
Yet when that period is over there is a strange indifference to much loved sweets.] for some time at least]. With practice I hope to get better.

Some people, for Sri Ganesha, do salt-less fast on Sankatahara chaturthi [ fourth day of the waning phase [ Krishna paksha] of the moon].
I tried it and found it to be tougher than the "sugar-free" fast.The next day I felt somehow renewed and fresher than usual .

[Eric11235]

Vannakam,

Thanks everybody for the encouragement and I'm glad if this helped anyone. I've got years of practice for fasting for 25 hours abstaining from food and drink (Via yom kippur), but this year i'm going to try making it a monthly thing.

My mind is a lot calmer than usual. And I feel a lot better than I usually do on a monday morning.

Namaste