Baba
Namaskar,
Since we all fast regularly, 2 or 4 times per month, we should understand which days are best to fast. That way we will adhere to Baba's system correctly and derive the greatest benefit, by selecting the proper tithi or lunar day, or fasting day in our Ananda Marga system.
It seems that some are fasting on fake days. They are taking great effort and doing tapasya by fasting, yet they may not be getting the best results. Here we investigate how to select the proper Ananda Marga fasting day(s) with respect to the oriental moon calendar system.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
How oriental moon calendar different from AM system
Now we all know that in our Ananda Marga we fast according to the lunar calendar. That is Baba's given system. However, the Ananda Marga ekadashaii (11th lunar day) does not always coincide with the traditional oriental ekadashii (11th lunar day). So we have to know the difference between these two as well as how to select the proper day. Let's take a few scenarios:
(1) Suppose that ekadashii (11th lunar day) begins on a Tuesday at 4am, an hour or so before sunrise. And let's say that that same lunar day or ekadashii ends at 3am on Wednesday, before sunrise. In that case the oriental lunar calendar will declare Tuesday, not Wednesday, as ekadashii. Because ekadashii was in effect at the time of sunrise on Tuesday, not on Wednesday. In this particular scenario, according to our AM system, we will also mark Tuesday as being ekadashii. Because the majority of the time of the ekadashii (i.e. 20 total hrs) occurred on Tuesday. So in that circumstance our AM ekadashii coincides with the ekadashii of the oriental lunar calendar.
(2) Suppose that ekadashii (11th lunar day) starts at Friday at 8am, just after sunrise. And let's say that the ekadashii period extends to Saturday 7am, just after sunrise. In that case the oriental lunar calendar will declare Saturday - not Friday - as being ekadashii. Because at the time of sunrise on Saturday ekadashii was in effect. In this particular scenario, however, according to our AM system, we will not announce Saturday as being ekadashii. We will name Friday as ekadashii. Because the bulk of the hours of the ekadashii (i.e. 16 total hrs) occurred on Friday, not Saturday. In that circumstance our AM ekadsahii will be different from the ekadashii marked on the oriental lunar calendar.
The oriental lunar calendar is only concerned with which day ekadashii was in effect at the time of sunrise. And that day is named as the tithi or ekadashii etc. But in AM we select ekadashii based on which day has more hours of the ekadashii period. This same formula applies to ama'vasya' (new or nil moon) and pu'rn'ima' (full moon) as well. Now let's take yet another example.
(3) Suppose that ekadashii (11th lunar day) starts on Wednesday at 9am, after sunrise. And let's say that lunar day extends to 4am on Thursday, before sunrise. Then for the oriental lunar calendar, they will not declare either day as ekadashii. Because ekadashii was neither in effect during sunrise on Wednesday nor during sunrise on Thursday. But in our Marga, there will be an ekadashii. We will name Wednesday as ekadashii since the bulk of the ekadashii hours occurred on Wednesday.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Why proper day is important
Those who do not fast may not find value in this topic. But for all sincere Ananda Margiis who adhere to Sixteen Points, this topic is extremely crucial. Fasting on the correct day yields great benefits. We live in a well-ordered universe designed by Parama Purusa. And it is He who has designated the fasting days for our welfare. It is an exact science and there is a reason why we are supposed to fast on particular days / dates.
Baba tells us that the gravitational pull of the moon affects the oceans of the earth as well as the liquid portion of our body. On certain lunar days that force creates a disturbance in the body and draws the fluids upwards creating undue pressure on the higher cakras, thereby inhibiting the mind. By fasting on the proper day we can offset this negative effect by keeping the stomach empty, in which case a vacuum results and the higher cakras are not adversely affected. For these reasons and more, we should all be vigilant to fast on the proper day - not some fake day. That means keenly understanding when ekadashii is on our Ananda Marga calendar as opposed to following the ekadashii or tithi on the oriental lunar calendar.
Conclusion
The conclusion is that according to the oriental moon calendar, whatever tithi (ekadashii etc) is active at sunrise, then that entire day is declared as that tithi. In contrast, in our Ananda Marga, whatever ekadashii has more hours on a particular day is the proper tithi.
Those who are sincere followers of our Ananda Marga upavasa system should calculate the correct fasting day for themselves. One should not depend upon anyone else's calculation. In this regard it is important to access to a local lunar almanac or website which lists the starting and end times of the lunar days in your area.
Finally, if any sincere Ananda Margii says that dashamii (10th day) on the oriental lunar calendar is always ekadashii (11th day) in our Ananda Marga system, then they should be careful because this may not always be correct. And it would be unfortunate to consistently fast on the wrong day. Confirming the proper day of ekadashii is easy and highly important. Otherwise one is taking great efforts yet fasting on the wrong day in which case they do not get all the benefits.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Namaskar,
In Him
Dayananda
~ In-depth study ~
Fasting alleviates ill effects of moon
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "On and around the times of new and full moon, one may observe that the gaseous and aqueous factors in the body rise up into the head and chest, creating an uncomfortable feeling. Therefore, if a person does not take food at these times, these factors will be drawn down from the higher portions of the body to the lower portions, thereby alleviating the uncomfortable feeling." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "You should not depend on food too much. This is why I have prescribed fasting on four days a month for some people and two days a month for others, and personally I have proved by fasting for five years and eight months at a stretch that if people try, they can remain without food. If one's dependence on food decreases, one will gain more freedom in a particular aspect of life." (2)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "So, fasting is a necessity in the eleventh moon, pu’rn’ima’, that is full moon, and new moon. In A’nanda Ma’rga, I didn’t prescribe these four days fasting, that is, for grhii’s — that is non-wholetimers, non avadhutas — they are to fast only two days, two eleventh moons. And for workers, avadhutas, they are to fast how many days? Four days. Because they will have to engage themselves more in spiritual and higher works, in intellectual and spiritual [realms]. That’s why they should fast four times in a month - and others, twice. But if others so desire, they may fast four times — I won’t say anything. But it is not compulsory. For them, two eka’dashiis." (3)
Practical way of doing ekadashii
The starting and ending times of ekadashii often occur at very odd times such as in the mid morning or evening or any other peculiar time during the day. For sadhakas, this is not the reasonable or rational time to start their fast. To follow the ekadashii fasting schedule in a very literal manner is totally impractical. For this reason, a system has been introduced by Baba to name a particular day (from sunrise to sunrise) as ekadashii. And that is what we follow for our fasting day, not the timings of the ekadashii per se. Baba's system is most practical and effective for our human living patterns.
Of course, we all know that Baba has also stated that one may fast the day of ekadashii, the day before or the day after. That much flexibility He has given; same is the case with purnima and amavasya. Those doing 4 fastings per month should ensure there is always a 3-day gap between ekadashii and purnima fasting, and ekadashii and amavasya fasting.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Lunar days & lunar years
Here it is important to know that the lunar day is not 24hrs in length. It is constantly in flux. Sometimes it is more than 24 hours and sometimes it is only 10hrs. Plus a lunar year is about 10 days shorter than a solar year. Accordingly, after every 3 solar years approximately one lunar extra day needs to be plugged in.
One website describes how the oriental calendar works:
Lunar days in the oriental calendar are called tithis. They are calculated using the difference of the longitudinal angle between the position of the sun and moon. Because of this, tithis may vary in length. Consequently, the tithi may or may not have changed by the time the day has changed at sunrise. And that is why we find at certain times a tithi being omitted, and at certain times, two consecutive days sharing the same tithi. (Courtesy of shikshapatri)
References
1. Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Fasting
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, In Kali Yuga, Strength Lies in an Organized Body
3. 12/1/71 Patna
Great bhakta
“Bhálobáso shudhui mukhe, d́eke d́eke mari tabu ásoná, bojhoná tumi ámár duhkhe...” (Prabhat Samgiita #0357)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, You only love me with Your words, not in the real sense. You say You have prema for me, but I do not see this by Your action. I call You over and over again, yet You do not come. There is nothing You do that makes me feel like You have deep affection for me. You remain far. So then how can I think that You care for me. You do not understand the pain of my yearning.
Parama Purusa, with the help of Your spiritual science of sadhana and philosophy, I go on searching for You in the depths of my ‘I feeling’. But, how can I get You when You just make my mind restless. In that condition, my mental plate becomes opaque. I cannot see You anywhere within. Lord, in the murky waters of my mind, You gleefully hide. This is Your liila. You are there in my mind, but I can’t see You.
Baba, my Nearmost, this vast creation is very attractive and colourful. You have decorated this and arranged a festival of colour and form across this entire universe. You are engaged in displaying a myriad of divine liilas. People are captivated by Your liila, and they have no clue about Liilamaya. They do not know You. Yet, behind the curtain of Your liila, You smile softly, watching everything and everyone. My Supreme One, who can see You without Your grace? Parama Purusa Baba, please shower me with Your causeless mercy, so I can see You everywhere and get You from behind the curtain of Your liila.
Baba, please satisfy my longing and bathe me in Your prema…
Note for Prabhat Samgiita #0367
When a bhakta has deep prema for Parama Purusa then they want Him in that most intimate and loving way. So when Parama Purusa does not respond or reciprocate in that intimate manner and does not come very close, then the bhakta lovingly accuses Parama Purusa that, "You do not love me the way I love You. Otherwise You would be coming close." This highly spiritual scene results only when one has a deep longing and desire to have Him close. It is similar to how a small child calls for his mother while she is busy. And when finally the mother returns home, the young child with tear-filled eyes will accuse her by saying, “Mother, you have no love for me; you do not love me at all; otherwise why were you gone so long.” This is the way the child will accuse its mother due to the child’s deep love for their mother. In this above Prabhat Samgiita, the bhakta is making the same type of accusation of prema towards Parama Purusa.
Just an imaginary literary figure, not God
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Many of you are aware of the fact that Ramchandra was not an historical figure, but a fictional one: he was an imaginary character to represent an ideal king. Maharśi Valmiki was the first person to give proper expression to that character. But the poet Tulsidas tried still harder, in the Mughal period, not very long ago, to accomplish this through the Rámacaritamánasa, written in the Avadhii language. The Rámacaritamánasa is not the complete Rámáyańa. Tulsidas described the character of Rama as he thought Rama should be; he delineated the character of Rama as he conceived of Rama in his own mind. Tulsidas was a truthful person. He did not name his book the Tulasiidásii Rámáyańa, he named it Rámacaritamánasa [“The Life of Rama As Conceived by Tulsidas”].” (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shivaya Shantaya - All Bask in the Glory of Shiva – 1 (Discourse 6)
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Passive benevolence does not bring progress
Ananda Marga ideology says, "You must continue doing good to society, and at the same time must fight against the bad...On the path of dharma, one is not only to do noble deeds; one must also fight against the dishonest people both are virtuous actions. There are many good people in the society - noble people engaged in noble deeds - who are not ready to fight against wrongs and injustices. This sort of passive benevolence does not really promote the cause of human progress in the world. What is desirable is to acquire virtue by doing noble deeds and fighting against all sins and crimes. Both are mandatory, both an integral part of dharma." (1)
Note: If we follow Baba's above mandate our organisation will be free from all kinds of negativity. Stagnant minded people will not get the opportunity to pollute Baba's ideology by imposing their dogma.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, p. 50-51
Recent postings
Moon fasting?
Namaskar,
Since we all fast regularly, 2 or 4 times per month, we should understand which days are best to fast. That way we will adhere to Baba's system correctly and derive the greatest benefit, by selecting the proper tithi or lunar day, or fasting day in our Ananda Marga system.
It seems that some are fasting on fake days. They are taking great effort and doing tapasya by fasting, yet they may not be getting the best results. Here we investigate how to select the proper Ananda Marga fasting day(s) with respect to the oriental moon calendar system.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
How oriental moon calendar different from AM system
Now we all know that in our Ananda Marga we fast according to the lunar calendar. That is Baba's given system. However, the Ananda Marga ekadashaii (11th lunar day) does not always coincide with the traditional oriental ekadashii (11th lunar day). So we have to know the difference between these two as well as how to select the proper day. Let's take a few scenarios:
(1) Suppose that ekadashii (11th lunar day) begins on a Tuesday at 4am, an hour or so before sunrise. And let's say that that same lunar day or ekadashii ends at 3am on Wednesday, before sunrise. In that case the oriental lunar calendar will declare Tuesday, not Wednesday, as ekadashii. Because ekadashii was in effect at the time of sunrise on Tuesday, not on Wednesday. In this particular scenario, according to our AM system, we will also mark Tuesday as being ekadashii. Because the majority of the time of the ekadashii (i.e. 20 total hrs) occurred on Tuesday. So in that circumstance our AM ekadashii coincides with the ekadashii of the oriental lunar calendar.
(2) Suppose that ekadashii (11th lunar day) starts at Friday at 8am, just after sunrise. And let's say that the ekadashii period extends to Saturday 7am, just after sunrise. In that case the oriental lunar calendar will declare Saturday - not Friday - as being ekadashii. Because at the time of sunrise on Saturday ekadashii was in effect. In this particular scenario, however, according to our AM system, we will not announce Saturday as being ekadashii. We will name Friday as ekadashii. Because the bulk of the hours of the ekadashii (i.e. 16 total hrs) occurred on Friday, not Saturday. In that circumstance our AM ekadsahii will be different from the ekadashii marked on the oriental lunar calendar.
The oriental lunar calendar is only concerned with which day ekadashii was in effect at the time of sunrise. And that day is named as the tithi or ekadashii etc. But in AM we select ekadashii based on which day has more hours of the ekadashii period. This same formula applies to ama'vasya' (new or nil moon) and pu'rn'ima' (full moon) as well. Now let's take yet another example.
(3) Suppose that ekadashii (11th lunar day) starts on Wednesday at 9am, after sunrise. And let's say that lunar day extends to 4am on Thursday, before sunrise. Then for the oriental lunar calendar, they will not declare either day as ekadashii. Because ekadashii was neither in effect during sunrise on Wednesday nor during sunrise on Thursday. But in our Marga, there will be an ekadashii. We will name Wednesday as ekadashii since the bulk of the ekadashii hours occurred on Wednesday.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Why proper day is important
Those who do not fast may not find value in this topic. But for all sincere Ananda Margiis who adhere to Sixteen Points, this topic is extremely crucial. Fasting on the correct day yields great benefits. We live in a well-ordered universe designed by Parama Purusa. And it is He who has designated the fasting days for our welfare. It is an exact science and there is a reason why we are supposed to fast on particular days / dates.
Baba tells us that the gravitational pull of the moon affects the oceans of the earth as well as the liquid portion of our body. On certain lunar days that force creates a disturbance in the body and draws the fluids upwards creating undue pressure on the higher cakras, thereby inhibiting the mind. By fasting on the proper day we can offset this negative effect by keeping the stomach empty, in which case a vacuum results and the higher cakras are not adversely affected. For these reasons and more, we should all be vigilant to fast on the proper day - not some fake day. That means keenly understanding when ekadashii is on our Ananda Marga calendar as opposed to following the ekadashii or tithi on the oriental lunar calendar.
Conclusion
The conclusion is that according to the oriental moon calendar, whatever tithi (ekadashii etc) is active at sunrise, then that entire day is declared as that tithi. In contrast, in our Ananda Marga, whatever ekadashii has more hours on a particular day is the proper tithi.
Those who are sincere followers of our Ananda Marga upavasa system should calculate the correct fasting day for themselves. One should not depend upon anyone else's calculation. In this regard it is important to access to a local lunar almanac or website which lists the starting and end times of the lunar days in your area.
Finally, if any sincere Ananda Margii says that dashamii (10th day) on the oriental lunar calendar is always ekadashii (11th day) in our Ananda Marga system, then they should be careful because this may not always be correct. And it would be unfortunate to consistently fast on the wrong day. Confirming the proper day of ekadashii is easy and highly important. Otherwise one is taking great efforts yet fasting on the wrong day in which case they do not get all the benefits.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Namaskar,
In Him
Dayananda
~ In-depth study ~
Fasting alleviates ill effects of moon
Ananda Marga Caryacarya says, "On and around the times of new and full moon, one may observe that the gaseous and aqueous factors in the body rise up into the head and chest, creating an uncomfortable feeling. Therefore, if a person does not take food at these times, these factors will be drawn down from the higher portions of the body to the lower portions, thereby alleviating the uncomfortable feeling." (1)
Ananda Marga ideology guides us, "You should not depend on food too much. This is why I have prescribed fasting on four days a month for some people and two days a month for others, and personally I have proved by fasting for five years and eight months at a stretch that if people try, they can remain without food. If one's dependence on food decreases, one will gain more freedom in a particular aspect of life." (2)
Ananda Marga philosophy states, "So, fasting is a necessity in the eleventh moon, pu’rn’ima’, that is full moon, and new moon. In A’nanda Ma’rga, I didn’t prescribe these four days fasting, that is, for grhii’s — that is non-wholetimers, non avadhutas — they are to fast only two days, two eleventh moons. And for workers, avadhutas, they are to fast how many days? Four days. Because they will have to engage themselves more in spiritual and higher works, in intellectual and spiritual [realms]. That’s why they should fast four times in a month - and others, twice. But if others so desire, they may fast four times — I won’t say anything. But it is not compulsory. For them, two eka’dashiis." (3)
Practical way of doing ekadashii
The starting and ending times of ekadashii often occur at very odd times such as in the mid morning or evening or any other peculiar time during the day. For sadhakas, this is not the reasonable or rational time to start their fast. To follow the ekadashii fasting schedule in a very literal manner is totally impractical. For this reason, a system has been introduced by Baba to name a particular day (from sunrise to sunrise) as ekadashii. And that is what we follow for our fasting day, not the timings of the ekadashii per se. Baba's system is most practical and effective for our human living patterns.
Of course, we all know that Baba has also stated that one may fast the day of ekadashii, the day before or the day after. That much flexibility He has given; same is the case with purnima and amavasya. Those doing 4 fastings per month should ensure there is always a 3-day gap between ekadashii and purnima fasting, and ekadashii and amavasya fasting.
https://anandamargauniversal.blogspot.com/
Lunar days & lunar years
Here it is important to know that the lunar day is not 24hrs in length. It is constantly in flux. Sometimes it is more than 24 hours and sometimes it is only 10hrs. Plus a lunar year is about 10 days shorter than a solar year. Accordingly, after every 3 solar years approximately one lunar extra day needs to be plugged in.
One website describes how the oriental calendar works:
Lunar days in the oriental calendar are called tithis. They are calculated using the difference of the longitudinal angle between the position of the sun and moon. Because of this, tithis may vary in length. Consequently, the tithi may or may not have changed by the time the day has changed at sunrise. And that is why we find at certain times a tithi being omitted, and at certain times, two consecutive days sharing the same tithi. (Courtesy of shikshapatri)
References
1. Caryacarya - 3, Procedure for Fasting
2. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 7, In Kali Yuga, Strength Lies in an Organized Body
3. 12/1/71 Patna
== Section: Prabhat Samgiita ==
Great bhakta
“Bhálobáso shudhui mukhe, d́eke d́eke mari tabu ásoná, bojhoná tumi ámár duhkhe...” (Prabhat Samgiita #0357)
Purport:
Parama Purusa, You only love me with Your words, not in the real sense. You say You have prema for me, but I do not see this by Your action. I call You over and over again, yet You do not come. There is nothing You do that makes me feel like You have deep affection for me. You remain far. So then how can I think that You care for me. You do not understand the pain of my yearning.
Parama Purusa, with the help of Your spiritual science of sadhana and philosophy, I go on searching for You in the depths of my ‘I feeling’. But, how can I get You when You just make my mind restless. In that condition, my mental plate becomes opaque. I cannot see You anywhere within. Lord, in the murky waters of my mind, You gleefully hide. This is Your liila. You are there in my mind, but I can’t see You.
Baba, my Nearmost, this vast creation is very attractive and colourful. You have decorated this and arranged a festival of colour and form across this entire universe. You are engaged in displaying a myriad of divine liilas. People are captivated by Your liila, and they have no clue about Liilamaya. They do not know You. Yet, behind the curtain of Your liila, You smile softly, watching everything and everyone. My Supreme One, who can see You without Your grace? Parama Purusa Baba, please shower me with Your causeless mercy, so I can see You everywhere and get You from behind the curtain of Your liila.
Baba, please satisfy my longing and bathe me in Your prema…
Note for Prabhat Samgiita #0367
When a bhakta has deep prema for Parama Purusa then they want Him in that most intimate and loving way. So when Parama Purusa does not respond or reciprocate in that intimate manner and does not come very close, then the bhakta lovingly accuses Parama Purusa that, "You do not love me the way I love You. Otherwise You would be coming close." This highly spiritual scene results only when one has a deep longing and desire to have Him close. It is similar to how a small child calls for his mother while she is busy. And when finally the mother returns home, the young child with tear-filled eyes will accuse her by saying, “Mother, you have no love for me; you do not love me at all; otherwise why were you gone so long.” This is the way the child will accuse its mother due to the child’s deep love for their mother. In this above Prabhat Samgiita, the bhakta is making the same type of accusation of prema towards Parama Purusa.
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Just an imaginary literary figure, not God
Ananda Marga philosophy states, “Many of you are aware of the fact that Ramchandra was not an historical figure, but a fictional one: he was an imaginary character to represent an ideal king. Maharśi Valmiki was the first person to give proper expression to that character. But the poet Tulsidas tried still harder, in the Mughal period, not very long ago, to accomplish this through the Rámacaritamánasa, written in the Avadhii language. The Rámacaritamánasa is not the complete Rámáyańa. Tulsidas described the character of Rama as he thought Rama should be; he delineated the character of Rama as he conceived of Rama in his own mind. Tulsidas was a truthful person. He did not name his book the Tulasiidásii Rámáyańa, he named it Rámacaritamánasa [“The Life of Rama As Conceived by Tulsidas”].” (1)
Reference
1. Namah Shivaya Shantaya - All Bask in the Glory of Shiva – 1 (Discourse 6)
== Section: Important Teaching ==
Passive benevolence does not bring progress
Ananda Marga ideology says, "You must continue doing good to society, and at the same time must fight against the bad...On the path of dharma, one is not only to do noble deeds; one must also fight against the dishonest people both are virtuous actions. There are many good people in the society - noble people engaged in noble deeds - who are not ready to fight against wrongs and injustices. This sort of passive benevolence does not really promote the cause of human progress in the world. What is desirable is to acquire virtue by doing noble deeds and fighting against all sins and crimes. Both are mandatory, both an integral part of dharma." (1)
Note: If we follow Baba's above mandate our organisation will be free from all kinds of negativity. Stagnant minded people will not get the opportunity to pollute Baba's ideology by imposing their dogma.
Reference
1. Ananda Vacanamrtam - 8, p. 50-51
== Section 3:
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series
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