Maha Swami never missed to emphasize how and which way we need to lead our life.
He pinpoints Dharma Sasthra.
He never imagines any deviation and never advocates also.
But, citing myriad alibis, it's quite obvious that there's stark reality of obliviousness to live the way Shasthra mandates.
Well
Is there only hopelessness?
Thank God.
Even if we don't live every inch of our life the sasthric way, I'm afraid if one commits and determines, one can begin at some point.
For, as Chinese proverb bodes,
'The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step."
In this piece, let's take one leaf from Dharma Sasthra. That strangely is about not leafful nor your plateful.
Dharma Sasthra has room for feasting and celebrating and at the same length stipulates fasting, vrada விரதம், உபவாஸம், on various sthithis, occasions.
Here our concern is on The Need to Fast and occasions to fast:
○Ekadasi - fasting throughout the day
○Sunday - fasting at night
○Amavasya - fasting at night
○Full moon day - fasting at night.
○Ashtami - no food during day time
○Sathurthasi - no food during day time
○Ramnavami - fasting throughout the day
○Gokulashtami - fasting throughout the day.
Besides above, though not in Dharma Sasthra, in propitiation of Lord Balaji At Tirumala
○Saturday - night fasting.
Of all the vradas, the cardinal one is Ekadasi vrada.
Who have to fast on Ekadasi?
Those between the ages of 8 and 80.
It's not to strain those outside this age gamut, the Sasthra exempts these children below 8 and seniors above 80 from the vrada.
Even if I may incur the wrath of everyone, I can't help citing Mahaswami's reference how strict and mandatory it is to observe full fast on Ekadasi :
No redemption at all for the sin of not fasting on Ekadasi.
Your murmur, question, whisper fall on my ears deafeningly :
"hey, are you fasting on at least the Ekadasi day? "
My honest answer is No.
But once having learnt and known it, let me make a vow, shankalp:
Rest of my bonus life, I would go sans food on my remaining Ekadasis.
