Re: Breaking fast on Lord's Appearance Day's

Dear Kyros prabhu,

      Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna! The above article talks about fasting on the Lord's appearance days. On those days we fast completely till the advent time and then, if necessary, break fast with a light no-grain diet, not more than that. This is especially true on Janmashtami and Gaura Purnima. Since the Lord's associates celebrate their festival on the next day, we observe full feasting on the next day.

    Actually if we can, we may very well fast the whole day of the Lord's appearance and break-fast with full feasting the next day which is the ideal standard. But for those who can't they are advised to take something light after the advent time, but not to feast. However even this rule isn't always enforced everywhere as people these days find even that to be so difficult. Others think that we should not fast on the Lord's appearance day for their own imaginary reasons. But they should know that feasting is only on the festival day, which is the day after Janmashtami or Gaura Purnima.

    Srila Prabhupada didn't enforce all the rules everywhere considering the ability of new devotees to adapt to stringent standards. However if we can follow a higher standard than the basics, then we should as it gives higher spiritual results.

    Regarding Ekadasi fasting, when the body fasts for a long time like 36 hours typical of Ekadasi, the digestive system stops working for a long time and so it is not advised to load the stomach to full all of a sudden as it may cause the digestive system to be excessively loaded. Consequently all throughout dvadasi you may feel slightly heavy. Light breaking is advised to warm up the body towards food intake so that when you take full fledged lunch you don't feel heavy. But as far as my little knowledge goes, it isn't against scripture to break ekadasi with full meals. I hope this helps. Swamiji or any senior devotee can correct our misunderstandings. Nityananda Gauranga Hare Krishna!

Daaso'smi,
Srinath

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