First note, Upavasam is not about (only) ignoring rice, and eat everythig else.
Upavasam literally means staying close to God.
The reason Rushis invented Upavasam is, when you are in last stages in age or death. One has to chant or take name of God, at-least on last breath. If you are in so much pain, or body is troubling a lot, it is impossible to remember/remind God name, Upavasam is about making practice your body and mind to remind God even when Body is giving so much trouble(in need of food). When we do Upavasam, all we are doing is, giving lot of trouble to Body, and intentionally reminding God all day, so that when actual time comes(near death), we still remember what to speak as final words. As god gave promise, who ever takes, his name or remember on last breath, he will be given Moksa.
The main Upavasam every one has to do is Ekadasi Vratha Upavasam. There are 24 Ekadasi days in a year, 2 for a month. Ekadasi is the eleventh day in both the halves of the lunar month - Sukla Paksham and Krishna Paksham. If one can't do(only in cases of Health) all 24 Upavasam, one has to do Mukkoti Ekadasi, which is very hard.
Each of the Ekadasi day has a distinct name. The 24 Ekadasi days are: Kamadhaikadasi, Varoodhinai Ekadasi, Mohonaiekadasai, Aparaikadasi, Nirjalaiekadasi, Yoginaiekadasi, Sayaniekadasi, Kamikaiekadasi, Putradaiekadasi, Ajaikadasai, Parivarthanikadasi, Indraikadasi, Suklapakshaikadasi, Ramaikadasi, Prabhodhinaikadasi, Mokadaikadasi, Safalaikadasi, Putradaikadasi, Shatilaikadasi, Jayaikadasi, Vajaikadasi, Amalaikadasi are termed as auspicious ones.
Out of all, Ashada sudda ekadasi is very important one and this is called as Pradaikadasi. Ashada sudhha ekadasi to Kartika sudda ekadasi is called as Chaturmasam and after that, the Mukkoti Ekadasi is very important. The Ekadasi in Mrugasira Sukla Paksh is known as Vaikunta Ekadasi.
Ok, Upavasam is not just about food. The main reason is stay with God, we can still goto work and do usual things, but spend more time with God. Chant prayers, visit Temple, read devotional books, do seva programs.
On Upavasam day, wake up early in the morning. Take bath and offer prayers. Perform a simple puja at home by lighting a lamp and offering vupacharas. Pray or meditate for few minutes. If there is a Vishnu temple nearby visit the temple and witness morning pujas and rituals.
Goto work, whenever you find time, read/listen anything about God. we have to try hard to avoid focus on food. If you literally think at a stage you can't even blink eyes, or make a step, only in that stage take milk, fruits, and light non-oily snacks that too in very limited quantity to keep body stand. And continue focus on God.
In the evening, visit Vishnu temple to see the Lord through the Vaikunta Dwara or the Vaikunta Door. The Vaikunta Dwaram is also known as the Uttara Dwaram and the darshan is known as Uttara Dwara Darshan or the seeing the Lord Vishnu from the North door. People do this mostly for Vaikunta Ekadasi, but one can do for every Ekadasi. Seeing the Lord through Vaikunta Dwaram would help the devotee get rid of all his sins, and it is believed swargarohanam is thru North door.
In the night, if possible do jagarna.
BREAKING
People doing week day Upavasam on a specific day, should do it for 24 hours, and break after next day morning sunrise. People doing ekadasi upavasam wait to end of ekadasi tithi and try to break in first 25% of the dvadasi tithi(called Hari Vasara).
On Dwadasi day, we have to take head bath, do pooja, make fresh food, offer all the fresh food you made to God and eat immediately. If available, we have to feed a Guest(athithi) first. God in your home is also observing upavasam, so we have to offer what we are eating on dwadasi day. It doesn't matter if it is lunch/dinner time, just eat immediately after Dwadasi comes.
If doing week day upavasam, same rules, instead eat next day morning after suryodayam and pooja.
It is believed that a partial or total abstinence from food on Ekadasi is rewarded with bliss.
For people with Health problems or are taking medicines, you can also opt for a partial fast by taking fruits or milk or any light snacks(Sathvika). Do not eat food made from rice, grains, honey, meat and eating on a bell metal plate. Do not apply oil on the day, and no haircut, nails cut.
Upavasa deeskha is also good for health reasons, to live longer time. The purpose of fasting is to experience peace & bliss. Eating less enables the mind & body to function more effectively. We give rest to stomach organs, which work continuously for life time. Also it burns excessive fat we have without our knoledge, and makes body lighter. Though we can't do Upavasa Deeskha only for this reason.
Upavasam literally means staying close to God.
The reason Rushis invented Upavasam is, when you are in last stages in age or death. One has to chant or take name of God, at-least on last breath. If you are in so much pain, or body is troubling a lot, it is impossible to remember/remind God name, Upavasam is about making practice your body and mind to remind God even when Body is giving so much trouble(in need of food). When we do Upavasam, all we are doing is, giving lot of trouble to Body, and intentionally reminding God all day, so that when actual time comes(near death), we still remember what to speak as final words. As god gave promise, who ever takes, his name or remember on last breath, he will be given Moksa.
The main Upavasam every one has to do is Ekadasi Vratha Upavasam. There are 24 Ekadasi days in a year, 2 for a month. Ekadasi is the eleventh day in both the halves of the lunar month - Sukla Paksham and Krishna Paksham. If one can't do(only in cases of Health) all 24 Upavasam, one has to do Mukkoti Ekadasi, which is very hard.
Each of the Ekadasi day has a distinct name. The 24 Ekadasi days are: Kamadhaikadasi, Varoodhinai Ekadasi, Mohonaiekadasai, Aparaikadasi, Nirjalaiekadasi, Yoginaiekadasi, Sayaniekadasi, Kamikaiekadasi, Putradaiekadasi, Ajaikadasai, Parivarthanikadasi, Indraikadasi, Suklapakshaikadasi, Ramaikadasi, Prabhodhinaikadasi, Mokadaikadasi, Safalaikadasi, Putradaikadasi, Shatilaikadasi, Jayaikadasi, Vajaikadasi, Amalaikadasi are termed as auspicious ones.
Out of all, Ashada sudda ekadasi is very important one and this is called as Pradaikadasi. Ashada sudhha ekadasi to Kartika sudda ekadasi is called as Chaturmasam and after that, the Mukkoti Ekadasi is very important. The Ekadasi in Mrugasira Sukla Paksh is known as Vaikunta Ekadasi.
Ok, Upavasam is not just about food. The main reason is stay with God, we can still goto work and do usual things, but spend more time with God. Chant prayers, visit Temple, read devotional books, do seva programs.
On Upavasam day, wake up early in the morning. Take bath and offer prayers. Perform a simple puja at home by lighting a lamp and offering vupacharas. Pray or meditate for few minutes. If there is a Vishnu temple nearby visit the temple and witness morning pujas and rituals.
Goto work, whenever you find time, read/listen anything about God. we have to try hard to avoid focus on food. If you literally think at a stage you can't even blink eyes, or make a step, only in that stage take milk, fruits, and light non-oily snacks that too in very limited quantity to keep body stand. And continue focus on God.
In the evening, visit Vishnu temple to see the Lord through the Vaikunta Dwara or the Vaikunta Door. The Vaikunta Dwaram is also known as the Uttara Dwaram and the darshan is known as Uttara Dwara Darshan or the seeing the Lord Vishnu from the North door. People do this mostly for Vaikunta Ekadasi, but one can do for every Ekadasi. Seeing the Lord through Vaikunta Dwaram would help the devotee get rid of all his sins, and it is believed swargarohanam is thru North door.
In the night, if possible do jagarna.
BREAKING
People doing week day Upavasam on a specific day, should do it for 24 hours, and break after next day morning sunrise. People doing ekadasi upavasam wait to end of ekadasi tithi and try to break in first 25% of the dvadasi tithi(called Hari Vasara).
On Dwadasi day, we have to take head bath, do pooja, make fresh food, offer all the fresh food you made to God and eat immediately. If available, we have to feed a Guest(athithi) first. God in your home is also observing upavasam, so we have to offer what we are eating on dwadasi day. It doesn't matter if it is lunch/dinner time, just eat immediately after Dwadasi comes.
If doing week day upavasam, same rules, instead eat next day morning after suryodayam and pooja.
It is believed that a partial or total abstinence from food on Ekadasi is rewarded with bliss.
For people with Health problems or are taking medicines, you can also opt for a partial fast by taking fruits or milk or any light snacks(Sathvika). Do not eat food made from rice, grains, honey, meat and eating on a bell metal plate. Do not apply oil on the day, and no haircut, nails cut.
Upavasa deeskha is also good for health reasons, to live longer time. The purpose of fasting is to experience peace & bliss. Eating less enables the mind & body to function more effectively. We give rest to stomach organs, which work continuously for life time. Also it burns excessive fat we have without our knoledge, and makes body lighter. Though we can't do Upavasa Deeskha only for this reason.
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