11-04-2006, 04:19 AM
courtsey: www.hinducounciluk.org via mail
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>KARVA CHAUTH-TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST? </b>
In the Hindu calendar, the month of Kartik (October-November) is a time of both physical and spiritual purification and as such, for centuries, Hindus have undertaken various acts of piety to achieve this end.
Why is it then that Kartik has this pre-eminence over the other months of the year? The testimony given in the Bhagavad-Gita by Lord Krishna that he is manifest in the year as the month of Kartik, is an unequivocal endorsement of this. However, older scriptures such as the Puranic texts mention numerous observances and festivals celebrated at this time of the year.
Â
We must investigate the importance of physical and spiritual purification. The former is common sense, as if we did not observe this, our bodies would harbour disease and deteriorate quickly and that is why many Hindus undertake âKartik Snaanâ and bathe in holy rivers and lakes. Hours are spent grooming the body and then replenishing it with lavish meals and numerous feasts! Although this is important, <b>we often neglect to âfeedâ the soul or Aatma</b>. It is accepted that the mind, body and spirit are interconnected and therefore for a harmonious existence, it is imperative that we tend to all three entities.
In the Gita, Bhagavan Krishna states that the wise have described three main paths to achieving purity- â<i>Yagyo daanam tapaschaiva, paavnaani maneeshinaam</i>â. <b>Yagya </b>relates to sacrifice, whereby an individual relinquishes something in the name of the Almighty. <b>Daan </b>(charity), may be described as a charitable act or donation of something for a good cause. These methods require the individual to have something in the first place to be able to undertake them. The last way described is <b>Tapa</b>, or penance, which may be observed in various ways regardless of an individualâs circumstances. The most common and widely followed act in this category is Vrat or fasting. <b>On the day of the fast, one takes a firm resolution to abstain from a particular activity such as speaking or eating food. Vrats that restrict the diet have many merits and have been proven to increase vitality</b>. They vary in their intensity and may be classified as follows:
a) Eating one meal a day.
b) Consuming a small amount of food and drink.
c) Partaking of only fruit or certain vegetables and liquids, abstaining from grains or pulses.
d) Restricting salt from the diet.
e) Abstaining from all food and drink for a specified duration of time.
The fast of <b>Karva Chauth</b> (Karak Chaturthi) falls under type âeâ and is a popular tradition observed conventionally <b>by married women </b>(Suhaagans) for the longevity and prosperity of their husbands. However if we refer to the Padma Puran, it is mentioned that all those who are able, should undertake this fast as it bestows immeasurable merit, regardless of their marital status. It is common knowledge that the âChauthâ or fourth day of the lunar fortnight is sacred to Lord Ganesh, so although married women venerate the female aspect of the Almighty in the form of Gauri/Parvati Mata, it is quite acceptable for men to observe this fast meditating on Lord Ganesh.
In order to gain the utmost benefit from this fast, it is imperative that we observe it at the correct time of year and in the appropriate manner. As most fasts in Sanatan Dharma are determined by the sun and the moon, it is important that we accurately verify when the auspicious time ensues. Many Suhaagans in the UK were plunged into a dilemma this year when they were unsure of whether to keep the fast of Karva Chauth on 9th or 10th of October. The predicament was further fuelled by conflicting reports from our UK based temples and clergy, relying on panchangs (almanacs) and jantris based on Indian time. Once and for all let us set the record straight in order to avoid such discrepancies and conflicting information.
The conclusion of Karva Chauth involves the offering of sanctified water (arghya) to the moon, as it represents Shiva and Parvati. The fast is therefore a âChandranaktaâ vrat, concluding at moonrise. The Shastras (law books) advise that at the time of concluding the fast the lunar day (tithi) must be prevailing. In the case of Karva Chauth, the lunar day must be the Chauth (i.e. fourth) at the time of concluding the fast and giving âarghyaâ. In the UK on 9th October 2006 at the time of moonrise (18.58hrs in London), it was the Chauth and therefore those observing the fast on this date would have fulfilled the criterion. On 10th October 2006 in the UK, the Chauth expired at 15.50hrs and the moonrise was at 19.28hrs. Therefore those observing the fast in the UK on this date would not have fulfilled the decisive factor, inadvertently failing to observe the fast at the correct time.
The individual keeping the fast on the incorrect day is not to blame as they were misinformed. There are schools of thought that would advocate, timing does not effect the keeping of a fast. I would argue that timing is of the essence and moreover, it is the resolve of the individual, which is the determining factor. The power of the female (Shakti) is unfathomable and the Suhaagan even more so. What is noteworthy is the selfless sacrifice a married woman makes for her partner and family. <b>It is for the men folk to reciprocate this act by honouring our Shaktis, recognising their true value in our society and intrinsic power.</b>
In conclusion, I would propose that our Faith is ancient yet highly evolved over the centuries, based not on unsubstantiated dogma, but logic and science. It is important in this age of technology with the vast resources of data at hand , that our religious scholars determine the correct days for observance of fasts in the UK and not jeopardise the destiny of the followers of the Faith.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>KARVA CHAUTH-TO FAST OR NOT TO FAST? </b>
In the Hindu calendar, the month of Kartik (October-November) is a time of both physical and spiritual purification and as such, for centuries, Hindus have undertaken various acts of piety to achieve this end.
Why is it then that Kartik has this pre-eminence over the other months of the year? The testimony given in the Bhagavad-Gita by Lord Krishna that he is manifest in the year as the month of Kartik, is an unequivocal endorsement of this. However, older scriptures such as the Puranic texts mention numerous observances and festivals celebrated at this time of the year.
Â
We must investigate the importance of physical and spiritual purification. The former is common sense, as if we did not observe this, our bodies would harbour disease and deteriorate quickly and that is why many Hindus undertake âKartik Snaanâ and bathe in holy rivers and lakes. Hours are spent grooming the body and then replenishing it with lavish meals and numerous feasts! Although this is important, <b>we often neglect to âfeedâ the soul or Aatma</b>. It is accepted that the mind, body and spirit are interconnected and therefore for a harmonious existence, it is imperative that we tend to all three entities.
In the Gita, Bhagavan Krishna states that the wise have described three main paths to achieving purity- â<i>Yagyo daanam tapaschaiva, paavnaani maneeshinaam</i>â. <b>Yagya </b>relates to sacrifice, whereby an individual relinquishes something in the name of the Almighty. <b>Daan </b>(charity), may be described as a charitable act or donation of something for a good cause. These methods require the individual to have something in the first place to be able to undertake them. The last way described is <b>Tapa</b>, or penance, which may be observed in various ways regardless of an individualâs circumstances. The most common and widely followed act in this category is Vrat or fasting. <b>On the day of the fast, one takes a firm resolution to abstain from a particular activity such as speaking or eating food. Vrats that restrict the diet have many merits and have been proven to increase vitality</b>. They vary in their intensity and may be classified as follows:
a) Eating one meal a day.
b) Consuming a small amount of food and drink.
c) Partaking of only fruit or certain vegetables and liquids, abstaining from grains or pulses.
d) Restricting salt from the diet.
e) Abstaining from all food and drink for a specified duration of time.
The fast of <b>Karva Chauth</b> (Karak Chaturthi) falls under type âeâ and is a popular tradition observed conventionally <b>by married women </b>(Suhaagans) for the longevity and prosperity of their husbands. However if we refer to the Padma Puran, it is mentioned that all those who are able, should undertake this fast as it bestows immeasurable merit, regardless of their marital status. It is common knowledge that the âChauthâ or fourth day of the lunar fortnight is sacred to Lord Ganesh, so although married women venerate the female aspect of the Almighty in the form of Gauri/Parvati Mata, it is quite acceptable for men to observe this fast meditating on Lord Ganesh.
In order to gain the utmost benefit from this fast, it is imperative that we observe it at the correct time of year and in the appropriate manner. As most fasts in Sanatan Dharma are determined by the sun and the moon, it is important that we accurately verify when the auspicious time ensues. Many Suhaagans in the UK were plunged into a dilemma this year when they were unsure of whether to keep the fast of Karva Chauth on 9th or 10th of October. The predicament was further fuelled by conflicting reports from our UK based temples and clergy, relying on panchangs (almanacs) and jantris based on Indian time. Once and for all let us set the record straight in order to avoid such discrepancies and conflicting information.
The conclusion of Karva Chauth involves the offering of sanctified water (arghya) to the moon, as it represents Shiva and Parvati. The fast is therefore a âChandranaktaâ vrat, concluding at moonrise. The Shastras (law books) advise that at the time of concluding the fast the lunar day (tithi) must be prevailing. In the case of Karva Chauth, the lunar day must be the Chauth (i.e. fourth) at the time of concluding the fast and giving âarghyaâ. In the UK on 9th October 2006 at the time of moonrise (18.58hrs in London), it was the Chauth and therefore those observing the fast on this date would have fulfilled the criterion. On 10th October 2006 in the UK, the Chauth expired at 15.50hrs and the moonrise was at 19.28hrs. Therefore those observing the fast in the UK on this date would not have fulfilled the decisive factor, inadvertently failing to observe the fast at the correct time.
The individual keeping the fast on the incorrect day is not to blame as they were misinformed. There are schools of thought that would advocate, timing does not effect the keeping of a fast. I would argue that timing is of the essence and moreover, it is the resolve of the individual, which is the determining factor. The power of the female (Shakti) is unfathomable and the Suhaagan even more so. What is noteworthy is the selfless sacrifice a married woman makes for her partner and family. <b>It is for the men folk to reciprocate this act by honouring our Shaktis, recognising their true value in our society and intrinsic power.</b>
In conclusion, I would propose that our Faith is ancient yet highly evolved over the centuries, based not on unsubstantiated dogma, but logic and science. It is important in this age of technology with the vast resources of data at hand , that our religious scholars determine the correct days for observance of fasts in the UK and not jeopardise the destiny of the followers of the Faith.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->