Is there any significance of the fasts that we observe for the well-being of our loved ones?

Smt. Bindiya Chaudhry asked: Is there any significance of the fasts that we observe on karvā chauth for the well-being of our husband or on aṣṭami for the well-being of our children? Shat shat pranam and thank you for continuously enlightening us. Thanks, Bindiya.

Swami replied: All these forms of worship of God are good because they improve the devotee’s devotion to God. Of course, these forms of worship are linked with some worldly fruits desired by us, such as the well-being of our husband, children and so on. But unless the worship is linked to some worldly fruits, the majority of people will not care to do it, at all. So, initially, God fulfills the worldly desires of devotees who worship Him in this manner. But one should not cling on to such desire-filled worship throughout one’s life. When a small boy in the kindergarten class is unwilling to go to school, we offer him some chocolates as an initial attraction, to motivate him to go to school. But now, the boy has become an adult and is a postgraduate student in the university. If he still demands chocolates to attend his classes at the university, is it not horrible? So, we should gradually realize that all worldly fruits are illusory and that God alone is the absolute truth. We should turn towards true spiritual knowledge (Nāstyakṛtaḥ kṛteneti—Veda) by which we can develop a personal bond with God. On developing such a bond with God, He takes up our complete responsibility, both in this world and in the afterworld (Yogakṣemaṃ vahāmyaham—Gita). This path is called nivṛtti. It is very clear that following nivṛtti does not lead to any worldly loss.

| Shri Dattaswami | naastyakrutah kruteneti Yogakshemam vahaamyaham ashtami karwachaut nivrutti