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Thai Pusam
- Thread starter Vinayaka
- Start date
Viraja
Jaya Jagannatha!
Some imminent devoted personalities opine not to suffer the body, for the sake of bhakti. I heard even Sri Sai Baba suggested it. Nevertheless, fasting (upvas), kavadi, and parikramas are age-old and known means to progress in bhakti.
Along the Vaishnava line, people fast on Ekadasis, the more advanced go for waterless fasting for 40+ hrs, and sometimes continue the fast to the next day, if the tithi extends. Other than that, I have seen people doing the 'namaskara parikrama' (1 full body namaskar for every single step for a length of 5 km the least), so that their bhakti exalts.
Along the Vaishnava line, people fast on Ekadasis, the more advanced go for waterless fasting for 40+ hrs, and sometimes continue the fast to the next day, if the tithi extends. Other than that, I have seen people doing the 'namaskara parikrama' (1 full body namaskar for every single step for a length of 5 km the least), so that their bhakti exalts.
What amazed me was the numbers. I'm guessing 1 in 3 Tamil Maurtians do kavadi with piercing. The rest are the organizers, and supporters. Over there, it's normal, like going for a cup of tea. But, yes, after 10 days of everyone participating, you can REALLY feel it. I wish the flight wasn't so far.
I would be very hesitant to judge without first-hand experience.
Viraja
Jaya Jagannatha!
I have tried fasting on Ekadasi 2 yrs ago. I kept fasting for 40 hrs (with water alone) for 1 full year. Although I did hear from someone it is so good for some doshas in my chart, I would not say it exalted my bhakti. Maybe I should practice it for much, much longer.
I stopped fasting a long time ago because it gave me a nasty headache. At that time, it may have been caffeine withdrawal though, as I was working, and coffee was a given. I should try again some day soon, when I have nothing to do, and can afford a 36 hour headache.
I used to fast for a day period on Ekadashi(from food only, a heart condition makes fasting from water unwise), but after I did my megafast during Navaratri(3 days liquid, 3 days raw, 3 days traditional fasting food), I found I started getting major headaches, not the day of, but the day after the fast. Tylenol didn't help. I went through this a few times, and decided it was probably best to listen to my body and tone it down a bit. I've been doing partial fasts on Monday and Thursdays(one for Shiva, one for Krishna) by taking one meal and allowing liquids. I may try total fasts again later down the road and see how I handle it then.
I think it's (headaches) pretty common. Very early in my entrance into Hinduism, I did 6 days, water only, and there were many accidental partial fasts on the days at school that were so busy I forgot to eat. It's fine to tone things down. Intent counts.
I'm far more a physical penance kind of person ... walking to temple, rolling, 108 full prostrations ... that sort of thing. I'll do vows over a period of time. In Mauritius for Maha Shivarati, half the island walks the entire distance to Ganga Talao, the holy lake. In India walking is big, particularly with the Ayyappan devotees, or Murugan bhaktars to Palani. Over days.
Ganga Talao - Wikipedia
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I'd gotten headaches in the past, but these seemed a little different. Head hurt, fatigued, groggy and absent minded... if it had just been some pain, I probably would have continued.
Boy, did I find this out recently! I did a Shiva puja... I was so excited to sing him a song... that after I started, I realized that I had left several of my items in the kitchen! I didn't know whether to stop and go get them, or truck through without them. I went with the second option, and that was one of the most profoundly moving pujas I ever did. I don't think he gave two licks about the forgotten apple and rice. I don't think I'll ever forget that puja.
I haven't any experience with physical penance(other than the time my husband and I walked 108 times around the main shrines in the temple). It sounds intriguing.
108 times is a lot. Boss did 1008 prostrations once. They are slightly easier than the full out version I do, but I've only ever done 108 in one shot. A lot of the physical things are easier than they look, even piercing. There is an adrenaline factor (or some other inner drug) that helps.