Fasting for Shivaratree

[Guest guest]

AUM

SAI RAM

 

Fasting

by all devout Sivaites is a precursory to the celebration of the Night of Siva

(Shivaratree) which will be celebrated on the 5th March 2008.

 

Fasting starts, for most, one week before the

festival. Devotees do not eat at all or consume only fruits or sweet dishes

from 6 am to 6 pm. Some others observe more vigorous fast where they do not

drink even water during the day. They observe silence and they keep their mind

fixed on God.

 

Why

do we fast for Shivratree?- The main reason is obviously to please the Lord

Bholenath - to show to Him that we care; we are grateful to Him, the One who

swallowed the deadly poison 'halahala' to

save Mankind, who takes all our sins away, who purifies and pampers us with

loads and loads of goodies.

 

Fasting in Sanskrit is called Upavaasa; "upa" means "near" and "vaasa" means "stay". Upavaasa means to stay near to God. Hence for Shivaratree, the

devotees take their mind off food and instead dwell on pure and noble thoughts

to stay very close to Lord Shiva. Since fasting is not obligatory but self-

imposed, it is adhered to with a lot of enthusiasm and joy.

 

In

February 2002, I was at Parthi for Shivaratree. On the eve of the festival, an

Italian lady who was volunteering in the Western canteen had an interview with

Our Sweet Lord Sai. When I joined her in the morning after Darshan and Bhajans,

she earnestly reported that Sri Baba had told her that all the volunteers in

the canteen should observe a day of fasting by drinking water only. Those who

have food by plenty should sacrifice their share of food for those who are less

fortunate, Baba had ordained. This lady, who was in charge of the kitchen, was

the owner of a few restaurants in Italy and in other parts of the

World.

Hence,

all of us volunteers, restaurant owners or not, did not eat any food at all,

though exceptionally the Lord Sai offered three free meals for Shivaratree! Cupping our hands in Seva, we drank water

from the fountain of Love for 24 hours.

 

Our

Lord Sai Shiva says "Water is a good cleansing medicine for the body; keep your

tongue still and concentrate on doing seva; you won't feel the pangs of

hunger!"

 

" Lingobhavakara Jai Parthiswara Hara Hara

Gange Mahadeva"( Glory to the Lord of Parthi who materialises the Shiva Lingam!)

 

At the Lotus Feet of Sai

Anita