HINDU FASTS & FESTIVALS : 27.2.1.2.

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27- Vaikunta Ekadashi-2.1.2

1. Benefits of Fasting-2.

    Fasting controls passion.

It checks the emotions.

It controls the senses also.

It is a great penance.

It purifies the mind and the heart.

It destroys a multitude of sins.

Fasting controls the tongue in particular which is the deadliest enemy of man.

Fasting overhauls the respiratory, circulatory, digestive and urinary systems.

It destroys all the impurities of the body and all sorts of poisons.

It eliminates uric acid deposits.

Just as impure gold is rendered pure by melting it in the crucible again and again, so also this impure mind is rendered purer by repeated fasting.

    Young and robust Brahmacharis (celibates) should observe fasting whenever passion troubles them.

Only then will they have very good meditation, as the mind will be rendered calm.

The chief object of fasting is to render the system calm so that one is able to practise meditation rigorously during that period.

Swami Sivananda
 To be continued  .....


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