Episode 39 - Mahashivratri Fasting | Vrat | Upwas
Fasting: A certain period of time (days/weeks) when you don't consume anything except water, in order to give your digestive system a break. Vrat/Upwas: This is a kind of partial fasting where you completely rely upon fruits and vegetables, including the food items that are readily available in nature. The whole idea was to offer devotion by the means of eating less so that one can concentrate more on the prayers for the health and prosperity of the family. Different Puranas and Shastras have different versions of the same. Upanishads describe it as discipline towards food and one should respect it by not overeating it. Nirjala is also a kind of fasting where a person doesn't drink water at all. Some rely completely on water, whereas some opt for naturally occurring raw uncooked foods like Fruits and Vegetables. In the olden days, when our ancestors use to follow fasting, they were avid travelers. During their journey from one place to another, they completely relied upon the foods that were available to them on their way home, amidst the jungle. That is how the tradition of eating fruits and vegetables came into the existence as per the Shastras. The sect of people who had cows as a means of barter for milk relied upon it. So milk products, fruits, vegetables, basically naturally occurring food items can be had during the holy period. Some Whey Protein powders contain Albumin which again is from the egg family. Read the instruction label on your whey tub and always ask your Mother about the items that are allowed in the fast. Trust me, they know everything. Happy Mahashivratri.Har Har Mahadev.
