GREETINGS

Swamiji:

Hari Ohm. Most of us follow various penances either as per our own decision or inspired by our parents or talks of acharyas. However most of don’t realise the real purpose of such austerity.There are several purposes for such practices.

Physical: Vratham help us to reduce fat, cleanses digestive system increase immunity and results in general fitness.

Mental:It develops mental strength and courage

Material: It helps to fulfill our positive desires,sankalpa, which we want achieve.

Generally vratham is observed from morning to evening. Austirities start from the eve of event ie people obseve ‘orikkal’ by avoiding non veg and skipping meals for supper and have something lighter. Next day ,vratham day one should get up early take bath, do all rituals like having thulasitheertha and chanting manthra. One can have water and juice till evening. Immediately after sunset one should have shower,light lamp do japam and take tender coconut or lemon juice for parana.After that one can have normal food.

If vratha is not done properly ,whatever snkalpa you want to fulfull may not be acheived since your mind is not stable and the doubts may withhold the happening.That is why it is said that life become hell if we don’t follow vratha properly.The bad experiences are not coming after death but we can experience hell in this life itself