19/02/2018 Fasting Defined | Gurbani Blog | ਗਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਲਗ

ਪਿੜਐ ਨਾਹੀ ਭਦ ਬਿਝਐ ਪਾਵਣਾ : Not by reading (religious books), but through Understanding, is the Mystery Realized. - sggs, 148

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Fasting Defined
by T. Singh

Fasting is the mandatory, voluntary or supererogatory abstinence from solid food, drinks, etc., over any period of
time out of the ordinary. People seem to observe fasting for a variety of reasons such as religious, social, political,
physical, hygienic, some specific worldly gains, and so on. This practice has its origins in human society dating to
the beginning of recorded history.

Religious fasting is practiced to this day amongst many religions of the world. It appears that people take on
religious fasts in a hope of fulfilling a variety of material and celestial desires. They include, but not limited to,
purification of the Soul, preparation to receive atonement of sins, earning the pleasure and blessing of God,
fulfilling some sort of religious obligations, expectation of fulfilling material desires, avoiding sorrows, learning self-
restraint, developing will power, attaining union with God, curbing of evil intentions and cravings, attaining richer
perception of God, expecting material remuneration or reward, and so on. Simply put: he purpose of religious
fasting seems to be to subdue the sense of fear lurking in the deluded mind, and to please God for securing
fulfillment of Vaasnaas (deep-rooted subconscious cravings) as well as liberation (Mukti).

ਅਨ ਨ ਖਾਿਹ ਦਹੀ ਦਖ ਦੀਜ ਿਬਨ ਗਰ ਿਗਆਨ ਿ ਪਿਤ ਨਹੀ ਥੀਜ ਮਨਮਿਖ ਜਨਮ ਜਨਿਮ ਮਰੀਜ ॥੬॥: Ann na khaae dehee
dukh deejai …: Those who do not eat food; They (just) tortures their body (because they don’t gain any spiritual
benefit from this act). Without the Divine Wisdom from the Guru, he is not satisfied (ਮਾਇਆ ਵਲ, Bikaars, etc.).
The Manmukh (the materialistic) is born only to die, and be born again ||6|| (sggs 905).
ਕਬੀਰ ਹਿਰ ਕਾ ਿਸਮਰਨ ਛਾਿਡ ਕ ਅਹਈ ਰਾਖ ਨਾਿਰ ਗਦਹੀ ਹਇ ਕ ਅਉਤਰ ਭਾਰ ਸਹ ਮਨ ਚਾਿਰ ॥੧੦੮॥: Kabeer Hari kaa simran
shaadi kai ahoee raakhai naari. Gadahee hoyi kai ayutarai bhaar sahai mann chaari ||108||: Kabeer, the woman
who gives up meditation on God, and observes the ritual fast of Ahoee (i.e., the reason a woman observes fast
is that she has forgotten God. ਅਹਈ = ਕਤਕ ਦ ਮਹੀਨ ਸੀਤਲਾ ਦਵੀ ਦੀ ਪਜਾ ਤ ਵਰਤ – Ahoee is associated with fast
and worship of Seetalaa Devee – ਸੀਤਲਾ ਦਵੀ – in the Desi month of Katak). Consequently (as she is trying to
please Seetalaa Devee by observing fast) she will be reincarnated as a donkey , to carry heavy burdens (Why
donkey? Because Seetala Devi’s riding or vehicle – ਸਵਾਰੀ – is said to be the donkey!) ||108|| (sggs 1370).

The true fasting as defined in the Gurbani, is to keep the wandering mind in check through mental fast.

The mind is drunk with the illusive wine of Maya. It is restless though thousands of scorpions have stung it at one
time! In such agitated condition, the mind behaves like it is separate from the Parmaatam (Mool). This is the
Haumai-mind’s disease; and in this diseased condition, the mind performs worthless deeds. Contentment in every
situation coupled with compassion is indicated to be the antidote to subdue and conquer dark mental forces.

ਮਿਨ ਸਤਖ ਸਰਬ ਜੀਅ ਦਇਆ ਇਨ ਿਬਿਧ ਬਰਤ ਸਪਰਨ ਭਇਆ ਧਾਵਤ ਮਨ ਰਾਖ ਇਕ ਠਾਇ ਮਨ ਤਨ ਸਧ ਜਪਤ ਹਿਰ ਨਾਇ
ਸਭ ਮਿਹ ਪਿਰ ਰਹ ਪਾਰਬਹਮ ਨਾਨਕ ਹਿਰ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਕਿਰ ਅਟਲ ਏਹ ਧਰਮ ॥੧੧॥: Mani santokh sarab jeea daiaal …: Let
your mind be content, and be kind to all beings. In this way, your fast will be successful (i.e., this is the real fast,
etc.). (With this kind of fast, one can) keep his wandering mind ( wandering after Bikaars) restrained in one
place. Chanting God’s Name, his mind and body become pure. The Supreme God is pervading amongst all. O
Nanak! sing His Praises; Sing God’s kirtan, this alone is the eternal faith ||11|| (sggs 299).

How can we develop Divine attributes of contentment and loving compassion? As indicated in the Gurbani, the
Divine attributes can be awakened within through observing the fast of Naam-Simran, Truthfulness, remaining free
of desires and fear, and realizing the True Self (Joti-Svaroopa). Through the Naam comes the dissolution of the
body-consciousness, transforming the mind into Divine Consciousness. Vanish with the dissolution of the body-
consciousness are the empty Karamkaand such as fasting and all other rituals.

ਹਿਰ ਹਿਰ ਜਾਪ ਤਾਪ ਬਤ ਨਮਾ ਹਿਰ ਹਿਰ ਿਧਆਇ ਕਸਲ ਸਿਭ ਖਮਾ ॥੨॥ ਆਚਾਰ ਿਬਉਹਾਰ ਜਾਿਤ ਹਿਰ ਗਨੀਆ ਮਹਾ ਅਨਦ ਕੀਰਤਨ
ਹਿਰ ਸਨੀਆ ॥੩॥Hari Hari jaap taap brat nemaa ..: God’s Name is my meditation, austerity, fasting and daily
religious practice. In His Meditation I have found total Joy and Bliss. His Praises are my good conduct,
occupation (ਧਾਰਿਮਕ ਰਸਮ ) and (high) social class. ||3|| (sggs 715).

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19/02/2018 Fasting Defined | Gurbani Blog | ਗਰਬਾਣੀ ਬਲਗ
ਸਿਭ ਨਾਦ ਬਦ ਗਰਬਾਣੀ ਮਨ ਰਾਤਾ ਸਾਿਰਗਪਾਣੀ ਤਹ ਤੀਰਥ ਵਰਤ ਤਪ ਸਾਰ : Sabh naad Ved Gurbani. Mann raataa
sarang paanee. Tah tirath varat tap saare: Sound current of the Naad, the Vedas, everything is Gurbani. My
mind is attuned to God. He is my sacred shrine of pilgrimage, fasting and austere self-discipline (sggs 879).
ਇਿਕ ਤੀਰਿਥ ਨਾਵਿਹ ਅਨ ਨ ਖਾਵਿਹ ਇਿਕ ਅਗਿਨ ਜਲਾਵਿਹ ਦਹ ਖਪਾਵਿਹ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮ ਿਬਨ ਮਕਿਤ ਨ ਹਈ ਿਕਤ ਿਬਿਧ ਪਾਿਰ ਲਘਾਈ ਹ
॥੧੪॥: Ik teerath naavahi ann na khaavahi. Ik agan jalaavahi deh khapaavahi. Raam naam bin mukti na hoee kit
bidh paar langhaaee he ||14||: Some bathe at sacred shrines and refuse to eat. Some torment their bodies in
burning fire. Without the Lord’s Name, liberation is not obtained; how can anyone cross over? ||14|| (sggs 1025).

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