Fasting in Hinduism is mainly done to earn Punya. Fasting is a process where we do not eat anything for half a day, one day, or more. It is observed in all religions. It is used as a treatment in naturopathy and Ayurveda. Modern science has also started taking it seriously. Fasting done scientifically can be beneficial.
Fasting is a very important aspect of Hinduism. Hindus observe fast in the name of God every once, twice, or more a week.
The following are the days and deities associated with that particular day. Fasting on that particular day is believed to be beneficial for pleasing that deity.
Monday – Lord Shiva
Tuesday – Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, Lord Hanuman
Thursday – Lord Dattatreya
Friday – Santoshi Mata
Saturday – Lord Hanuman, Lord Shani
Sunday – Khandoba
Other than these days, there are monthly and yearly fasts also.
Sankashti and Angarki Chaturthi – Lord Ganesha
Ekadashi – Goddess
Mahashivratri – Lord Shiva
Gokulashtami – Lord Krishna
Vat Pournima – this fast is done only by married women to increase the lifespan of their husbands.
Ganesh Jayanti – Lord Ganesha
Guru Pournima – Lord Dattatreya
Navratri – Goddess Durga
An Ideal Way of Fasting in Hinduism:
According to ancient Hindu tradition, one should fast once a week with an empty stomach until the afternoon. One is allowed to drink water until that time. One should have fruit juice or one or two fruits in the afternoon. (This privilege is given because remaining empty stomachs for a long time can increase acidity and lower blood sugar and blood pressure. Also, some people need to do hard labor throughout the day. In such situations, it is tough to remain on an empty stomach for the whole day. Some people sometimes fall sick and faint if they do not eat anything throughout the day. One should break the fast in the evening after sunset. The timing for the fast is from sunrise to sunset or else 12 a.m. to 12 a.m. the next night, i.e., 24 hours.
While breaking the fast, you should eat some rice first. Eating non-vegetarian food is not allowed on the day of fasting because non-vegetarian food is hard to digest. If you eat non-veg on the day of fasting, it is useless to fast. Plus, killing someone on the day when you are doing fast for God is bad.
Spiritual reasons behind fasting:
It is believed that your sins would lessen if your body undergoes suffering. It is like punishing yourself. So, instead of God punishing you, you punish yourself. This would lessen some of your sins, and you would have a better time in your life.
It is also believed that if you fast on a particular day, that particular deity becomes happy with you and lessens your sufferings. So, if you are in trouble and you go to an astrologer, he will advise you to fast on a particular day depending on the nature of your problem.