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 karwachaut fast we keep for husbands or ashtami fast we keep for childrens well being? Shat shat pranam and thank you for conitnuously enlightening us. Thanks, Bindiya]

Swami replied: All these worships of God are good because they improve the devotion of devotee to God. Of course, these worships are linked with some worldly fruits like welfare of husband, welfare of issues etc. Unless these worldly fruits are linked, majority of people does not get attracted to do these worships. Of course, God also fulfils the worldly desires initially. But, one shall not cling to such concept only throughout the life. The child goes to LKG class for which a chocolate is offered to the child as initial attraction. But, the child has become adult and today is a PG student. If such adult also demands for chocolate to attend his PG class, it is horrible! Slowly, we shall realize that these worldly fruits are illusory and God alone is the absolute truth and turn towards true spiritual knowledge (naastyakrutah kruteneti- Veda) by which a personal bond with God is developed based on which God takes up all our responsibilities here and there (Yogakshemam vahaamyaham— Gita) and this is called Nivrutti. Hence, by Nivrutti there is no worldly loss!

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