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The How and Why of Fasting in Hinduism

The practice of fasting in Hinduism is believed to confer both spiritual as well as physical benefits.

 ‘Upvaas’ (upa= near, vaas= stay) or fasting literally brings one closer to God. Each day in the week is sacred to a particular deity and devotees can honor their favored god by fasting on that day. Monday is dedicated to Shiva; Hindu women typically observe a Friday fast to honor Shakti, the Mother Goddess in her many forms as Durga, Kali or Parvati. Thursday is sacred to Vishnu and Tuesday to Hanuman. Astrologically speaking, Shani (Saturn), one of the nine navagrahas (planets) is a troublesome influence; a Saturday (Shanivar) fast is observed to sidestep misfortune and ill-health.

Typically, fasting involves no intake of food during the day and ends with a single meal in the evening. Fasting is also undertaken on certain festivals like Navratri, the nine-day festival dedicated to Shakti, and Shivaratri, dedicated to Shiva. A fast ends with prayers and an evening meal consisting of sattvic (pure) foods associated with spiritual well-being.

Many fasts originate from myths propagated by ancient seers to draw ordinary people towards spiritual enlightenment. The concept of Brahman or Absolute Reality, for instance, cannot be easily understood by lay devotees. The prospect of a tangible gain however, will attract them towards observing a practice, howsoever difficult. People fast for the birth of a child, or achieving prosperity or success in some enterprise. In the process of fasting, a person experiences moments that take him beyond material desires, towards realizing Brahman. Regular observance of fasting thus inculcates spiritual growth.

Yoga and Ayurveda stress on fasting for physical and spiritual well-being. When the digestive system is rested, it burns off existing toxins in the intestines.  The lightness of being that is experienced leads towards spiritual clarity. Sipping decoctions of digestive ingredients like black pepper, ginger and jaggery further cleans up the body.

 

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What does Samadhi mean in Hinduism?

 

Samadhi in Hinduism refers to a highly evolved level of meditation. Yoga schools call this Dhyana.

Etymologically, Samadhi is divided into three parts. ‘Sam’ means holistic, ‘a’ is going towards and ‘dha’ is achievement. Together, Sam-a-dhi translates as the attainment of wholeness. Samadhi is generally associated with complete control of the mind.

The Yoga Sutras classify Samadhi into four stages. Laya Samadhi begins in intense meditation and manifests as a wellspring of joy akin to that experienced during dancing or singing.

In Savikalpa Samadhi, the meditator briefly experiences space and time in a different way. His imagination (kalpa) remains active and hence he ‘sees’ the myriad desires that remain unfulfilled in his life. In this Samadhi however, the realization comes that he is but an instrument in their completion. Ideas flood in, but he observes them detachedly. 

In the third stage – Nirvikalpa Samadhi – such attachments and the actions that give rise to them (karma) dissolve.  The heart ceases to beat. The meditator is filled with infinite bliss. He is both the object of joy and the one who rejoices. There is a sense of tremendous power accompanied by the sensation of containing the universe within him. This may endure for a few hours or several days and is achieved only by a few spiritual masters. Emerging from Nirvikalpa Samadhi, he may not recall his name or communicate normally. He may experience reluctance to return to functioning like an ordinary human being.

Sahaja Samadhi Is the supreme level of meditation where the meditator attains the highest levels of consciousness yet is able to function effectively in the material world. Such an individual has conquered reality, a rare feat. To experience Sahaja Samadhi, it is necessary to become one with the divine.

Mahasamadhi is the term used to describe a spiritual master’s deliberate leaving of his body to unite with God.

 

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Meditating with OM

In the sheer simplicity of the word OM lies an amazing, transformative power! Om, believed to be ‘the sound of the Universe’ is Hinduism’s most sacred of mantra. To explore the benefits of meditation, OM is a good place to begin as it’s short, easy to remember and allows you to focus.

Keeping the eyes gently closed at the start of meditation helps cut out visual distractions. The Om mantra must be attuned to your breathing – slow, deep, but always easy inhalation and exhalation. Chanting Om is believed to set off vibrations within that help us ‘tune in’ to cosmic vibrations. Initially various thoughts disturb the meditating mind, much like a stone thrown into a placid pool causes ripples. With regular practice, the mind learns to gently push distractions away and love the tranquility that spreads through one’s being with the repetition of Om. Once the chattering mind is stilled, all petty woes and negative thoughts fall away; the mind connects to an unseen power and a sense of pure being is experienced that is beyond words.

Emerging gradually from even a 5-minute session of Om meditation, the seeker is filled with an inexplicable joy that he has never known. Is it really that simple? Try it!

 

Pictured Above: Om Wall Hanging from Om Etc.

Gayatri Mantra

Om Bhur Bhuva Suvah
Tat Savithur Varenyam 
Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi
Dhiyo Yonah Prachodayat

                           
The Gayatri Mantra forms the core of many Hindu rituals and prayers. It is among the best known verses in the Hindu literature and was originally a part of the Rig Veda. Indology scholar, Ralph Griffith, translated the Gayatri Mantra as:

‘May we attain that excellent glory of Savitar the God, so He may stimulate our prayers.’
Savitar is a solar deity who is indirectly worshipped through the Gayatri Mantra. Several other translations exist for this mantra with Savitar being replaced for divine light, the sun, a nameless God who created the universe and is the harbinger of happiness and good health. The mantra is loosely translated as a healing mantra that provides comfort, peace, happiness and joy.

Decades ago, the use of Gayatri Mantra was limited to male Brahmins only, but Hindu reform movements such as those led by the Arya Samaj and Raja Ram Mohan Roy, spread awareness about this hymn when teaching women and others about the importance of the Vedas and the Upanishads.

It is said that the Gayatri Mantra contains the essence of all Gods and Goddesses, which explains why it is considered so powerful. Start by reciting the mantra once in the morning, afternoon and the evening or chant it as often as you want.

 

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What is significance behind the magic number 108 in chanting?

 

The number 108 pops up an extraordinary number of times in Hindu thought, worship and mythology. Many Hindu gods have over 1000 names, but a devotee only recites108 names at a time. Krishna is believed to have had 108 gopis or milkmaids in attendance upon him. 108 also pops up in the number of Sanskrit alphabet!

The Vedic system of astrology offers a possible answer based on simple calculations involving the five elements of the universe (earth, air, fire, water and space), the three attributes of life (birth, existence and death) and 27 constant stars in the sky, all of which are components in our concept of Time. The final answer, which comes to 108, encompasses our idea of the universe, a frame of reference as it were upon which to base our faith. When a devotee chants the 108 names of the Lord, he is quite simply, connecting with the spirit of the universe, paying his respects in deep humility to that which pervades all life.

Pictured Above: Rudraksha Mala with 108 beads from Om Etc.

Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal

 

This ancient temple on the banks of the River Bagmati in Deopatan is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his aspect as Lord of Animals. It is Nepal’s oldest Hindu shrine. Non-Hindus are barred from entry but it’s possible to get a good view from the other side of the river. The pagoda-style temple has two tiers with richly decorated silver and gilt doors on all sides. Inside the sanctum is a four-faced lingam, symbol of Lord Shiva. The extensive grounds contain a rare temple of Lord Brahma the Creator, who was cursed never to be worshiped. Another interesting shrine is that of Vasuki, the mythical snake.

The Bagmati River is a sacred spot for pilgrims. Downstream, Bhasmeshvar Ghat is an important cremation site.

What are rudraksha beads?

“Rud” in Sanskrit means “to cry”, while “aksh” is “eye”; Rudra was Lord Shiva’s original name in the Rig Veda.  Hindu mythology claims that the rudraksha tree grew from the god’s tears falling upon earth. The evergreen tree adapts to a variety of habitats growing in the foothills of the Himalayas, tropical regions like Southeast Asia, Australia and some South Pacific islands.

Rudraksha is more famously associated with the tree’s fruit stones which are vigorously cleaned to become Hindu prayer beads. Typically, rudraksha seeds have facets (mukhee or “faces” in Hindi) ranging between 1 and 21. Five, four and six-faced beads are most common. A single-faced bead is the rarest of all. It fetches a high price and once acquired is rarely resold, the owner invariably treasuring it as a family heirloom. The Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal has two such beads, one of which is displayed to devotees during auspicious occasions.

108 rudraksha beads strung together make a mala or rosary. It is not uncommon to spot people wearing rudraksha around their neck or wrists.

Ayurveda credits rudraksha with powerful medicinal properties, from controlling hypertension to treating epilepsy, liver dysfunction and asthma. It has anti- bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Wearing a rudraksha is said to enhance one’s mental powers.

Pictured Above: Sterling Silver Om Pendant with Rudraksha Seed from Om Etc.

 

What is a mandala and what do different elements of a mandala represent?

A mandala (in Sanskrit ,‘manda’ = core, quintessence ‘la’ = container) is  typically a square or circular chart with geometric designs. It symbolizes the cosmos and everything within; another meaning for ‘mandala’ is wholeness.

Mandalas exist everywhere in nature, from a snowflake, a snail’s shell and the rings of a tree to the solar system. Ancient civilizations viewed themselves as patterned on the cosmos, from the basic unit, man, to his place in society and the world at large. The design and structure of their sacred edifices reflect this thought from Khajuraho in India to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Borobudur in Java.

Divided into four equal quadrants, a mandala is constructed of concentric circles and squares leading to a center. The eye is drawn naturally to the center, making it a useful tool during meditation. Carl Jung, the psychoanalyst famously painted mandalas, claiming that they offered him deep insight into his patients’ emotional disorders.

Tibetan Buddhism elevated mandalas to an exquisite art form and means of ritual worship. Buddhist   monks create intricate mandalas of colored sand and destroy them; this signifies the transience of all life.

What is the meaning & Origin of Namaste ?

The word Namaste is a combination of two Sanskrit terms: Namah (I bow respectfully to you) and Aste (let there be). A literal translation makes little sense; rather, it is the spirit of the greeting that is significant, one that is deferential, cordial and executed with grace and a certain humility.

Most frequently used at the end of a Yoga session in the Western world, Namaste or Namaskar is the word uttered as a traditional greeting in India and parts of Nepal accompanied by folding one’s palms across the chest, as in prayer. Typically, elders and equals in age were greeted with a Namaste, though in modern situations words like "What's up" have become increasing popular with the youth.

Holy Sites in India - II

Some of the most famous sites of Pilgrimage in Southern India are:

Tirupati: Dedicated to Vishnu, this temple is the wealthiest place of worship in the world, and the number of visitors in a day sometimes surpasses 200,000. Although the exact age of the temple is not known, it is believed that there are references to it in literature from 500 BC.

Sabarimala: Located in the Western Ghats in Kerala, this temple is the destination of the world’s second largest annual pilgrimage (after the Haj), and attracts several pilgrims from other faiths.

Rameshwaram: Considered by Hindus to be among the holiest of places, this is where Prince Rama is believed to have prayed to Lord Shiva to appease him after he killed the demon king Ravana who was also a great devotee of Lord Shiva.