Why don't You encourage fasting for the sake of God?

Q. You are the incarnation of God Datta, who gave salvation to a dog for fasting but now not encouraging fasting. Please enlighten me.

[Ms. Kiranmai asked:- Paadanamaskaaram Swami, Yesterday was ShivaRatri and I already read in Your Preaching on Your website that one should not do fasting because he/she will not have energy to worship God. Also, if one does fasting, it is said that he/she eats one's own excretory matter leftover in the last part of digestive system called rectum. You sarcastically commented that the person, who rejects food on the marriage day of God Shiva and Parvati, definitely deserves this punishment. Last night, I explained this concept to my mother and told her to not fast and eat something since Swami told it. She replied that the same God Datta blessed a dog to become king for 7 births and eventually gave salvation for fasting on Shivratri. Since this is a true incident mentioned in Guru Chaitra, I didn't have any point to convince my mother and break her fast, Swami. In Sri Guru Charitra, a dog does fasting, takes darshan of Shiva Puja and does pradakshina on MahaShivaRatri. When it dies in Shiva's temple, You blessed that dog to become king and later, gave salvation after giving 7 births as king. Anyways, I am happy that my mother ate prasadam at the temple and broke her fast by Your grace, Swami. But, she told that Your advice is for kids, people with health issues and old people because in their case, their health must be prioritised. Swami, You are the incarnation of same God Datta, who gave salvation to a fasting dog. I am confused now because You are not encouraging the fasting at all. Please enlighten me, Swami. At Your divine lotus feet, Kiranmai.]

Swami replied:- In the Guru Caritra, it is said that a dog fasted (upavāsa) on Śiva Rātri. It means that the dog became close to God Shiva by getting itself immersed in the devotion to God. Even if you interpret this as foregoing food, it implies that the dog has spontaneously forgotten to take food due to the immersion in devotion. Some great devotees are born as animals and we see such devotional activities even now. These activities reveal to us that we are below the state of an animal. It is said that in Śrīkālahasti, an elephant, a spider and a serpent got salvation by their devotion to God Shiva. The dog did pradakshinams to the temple of Shiva and watched the worship of Shiva taking place. The word Upavāsa used for fasting doesn’t mean avoiding food, but, it means to become close to God through worship like hearing the stories of God Shiva and singing divine songs on God Shiva (Upa = immersed in the worship of God, Vāsa = to become close to God). This word doesn’t say that you will become close to God by not eating food on that day. Due to your immersion in the worship of God, if you naturally forget to eat the food and also forget to sleep, both are called as Upavāsa and Jāgaraṇa respectively.

Not eating food and not sleeping by taking effort for the sake of selfish welfare are not Upavāsa and Jāgaraṇa. It is also told in the Bhagavad Gita that the devotee making the body suffer by not eating and by not sleeping is not only paining the self in the body, that is also paining God, who is the creator-Father of every soul (Karṣayantaḥ…). The Gita also states that fasting without taking food will not bring the grace of God (Na caikānta manaśnataḥ...). The Gita also states that you should eat little food so that you will not be weak and unable to worship God well (Yuktāhāra…). Overeating always develops drowsiness that makes you unable to worship God well. Even the Veda says that one shall take little food on the days of festivals to worship God effectively (Payo Brāhmaṇasya vratam…). Devotees take fruits and milk, which is Sāttvika food on the day of upavāsa and this is a good tradition that is observed even today because the energy released from food is essential for doing worship. You should be effective in worship by taking limited food, but should not be ineffective with weakness so that you can’t worship God effectively with weakness.

Yogi Vemana told in his Telugu poems called “Vemana Śatakam” that the devotee fasting on the festival day eats his/her own excretory matter leftover in the rectum due to fasting (Kūḍu viḍaci malamu kuḍucurā Upavāsi), which is scientifically correct. Our elders are blind by some bad traditions and their rigidity of ignorance will not allow you to talk anything against any tradition. Both good traditions and bad traditions exist. Good traditions are established by our ancient sages. Bad traditions are established by sinful people in the beginning of Kali age. Our elders are not attracted by good traditions! You see, how much oil is wasted in lightening lamps on Śiva Rātri and Dīpāvalī when electric lights are glowing simultaneously. Oil (fat) is a precious nutritious food and shall be donated to poor people for their good health by which only God is really pleased. The Veda says that food should not be burnt (Annaṃ na pari cakṣīta). When there is sunlight in the daytime, lamp is not required at all. Lamp is required for your clarity of vision to see the idol of God or read any holy scripture before God. The lamp is lit only in the evening when the darkness starts spreading and such lamp is called as ‘Sandhyaa Diipa’ (Sandhyā dīpa namo'stu te). Such evening light can be even an electric bulb today. In ancient days, due to absence of kerosine and electricity, people were lightening lamps with oil since that was only available. The Gita says that the tradition should be well discussed and then only shall be practiced, which should not be blindly followed (Jñātvā kurvīta karmāṇi…).

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