Sivaratri fasting is often dismissed today as a diluted ritual or an impossble religious practice. Yet, when looked at closely—through seasonal changes, bodily rhythms, and mental states—it reveals a quiet intelligence. This reflection explores why fasting on Sivaratri may have been introduced, and why it still deserves thoughtful consideration.
Concept of Fasting on Sivaratri
We have a concept of fasting on the Sivaratri festival. Although this has been diluted heavily over the years—from fasting even without water until the next day, called katika (strict) upavasam, to these days diluting to eating wheat upma or others as dinner—yet it secures a place worth discussing.
As I write this, I want to explore the concept as deeply as I can. I want to explore two sides of the coin. I believe, like many other things in religions—especially Hinduism—this practice was introduced with multiple objectives.
This period is exactly the time when winter starts breaking away and day sun gets hotter and hotter. Prickliness in sun rays can be easily observed from the Makara Sankranti festival, usually on January 14th every year. The actual seasonal changes start from around this period of Sivarathri.
With the dormant period of hibernation in winter ending now for most living beings, including insects and bacteria, this is the time ripe for catching diseases. If one observes even natural fermented things like curd, it slows down incredibly during winter and it gets into proper speed now with minimal effort. This is the time when fungi become more active.
And I suspect this could be true for bacteria and viruses as well, which flourish just before winter during rainy seasons. Now is the time when change is happening and the body is most vulnerable to getting sick.
Fasting has now been scientifically proved to boost immunity. A full day of fasting gives the body a break from digestion work and helps repair cells, weed out unwanted bacteria, boost antibodies, and so on.
Since our bodies function based on circadian rhythm—following the sun in a day—a 24-hour fasting helps body repair and prepare the entire body and different organs. Half-day fasting may not provide substantial benefits.
The other benefit our ancestors may have considered was how deeply we will now appreciate the value of food after facing hunger for an entire day. The respect for food and food-giver should grow immensely now.
Another aspect is that when there is no food and digestive activity, our mind becomes calmer. It will become more bslanced emotionally. A balanced mind can think better and rationally. One may stumble upon good solutions for long-pending issues or questions.
If one is on the spiritual side, the empty light stomach helps to focus on God. One would perform spiritual chores including deep and long ritualistic prayers or epic reading with full focus. These, in return, again help the person become calmer throughout the day.
While not necessarily being in a state of joy, the emotions are surely in control. Those into meditation will find this day more engaging—or disengaging from worldly thoughts.
A 24-hour fasting is not an impossible or herculean task. Everything starts with a sankalpa (resolve). If one makes a sankalpa before the start of the day that he or she would do a 24-hour fasting and resolves to not even consider the thought of breaking fast or of food thoughts, then the fasting happens without drama.
It is not as difficult once the sankalpam is made. And the benefits are real.
Comments