There was a time when the scientific establishment held the view that fasting was not beneficial for health, especially because it was viewed as food deprivation. Humanity has experienced a relatively long period of bounty, especially in the industrialized nations where there has always been an adequate food supply, often in excess. Due to increasingly sedentary lifestyles and a lack of physical effort, which our body is wired for, obesity started gaining foot in society and this became a widespread problem. The corollary of this phenomenon meant that people started trying varieties of diets, in an effort to shed their excess flab. Along the way, scientists started investigating the possible benefits of dieting – not knowing that fasting was for a long time an integral part of ancient cultures, not only as a means to stay young and healthy, but also to prime spiritual development.
Scientific Benefits of Intermittent Fasting
There is a new buzz word in the ever evolving field of human nutrition: intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting involves any form of reduction of calorie intake that takes place at fixed intervals of time – every 10, 15 or 20 days, ideally every fifteen days according to science. One of the main benefits of food reduction is related to the alimentary canal. Fasting gives much-needed rest to the digestive tract, enabling it to purge the excess food and detoxify. It is impossible to improve the quality of digestion when the intestinal passage is clogged. Meat when consumed can remain in the alimentary canal for as long as 5 – 7 days, which is why the resulting putrefaction causes toxins to build up, hence favouring disease. Fasting thus allows for a sort of decluttering. When supplemented by generous intakes of fluids and legumes, it brings about detoxification.
Figure: Intermittent fasting benefits (Credits: Science Mag)
Common sense dictates that if one is always binging on food, sometimes in outright gluttony, the body is always in a state of dependence on food and anticipation of it – hence it is always in a state of hunger. However, we really can survive on less food than we usually consider necessary, and the verity behind this assumption can be discovered by trying different fasting techniques. Some of the techniques of fasting are focused on reducing carbohydrates from the diet, other diets are uniquely focused on protein intake at the expense of carbs while others focus on strict avoidance of fatty foods. Conversely, the vegetarian diet or the vegan diet which focus on strict avoidance of meat and dairy (in the case of veganism) can be considered a lifestyle diet. However, beyond these generic techniques, there are specialised diets, e.g the Paleo diet, the Atkins diet, the Dukan diet etc. These tend to be different variations of food intake based on the different classes of food but the advantage is that there is extensive scientific research to back their benefits.
Perhaps the most remarkable benefit of fasting has been revealed by modern science itself. According to the latest research on stem cells, fasting boosts stem cell regeneration, increasing telomere length which determines longevity. Telomeres are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect our chromosomes, like the plastic tips at the end of shoelaces. Without the coating, shoelaces become frayed until they can no longer do their job, just as, without telomeres, DNA strands become damaged and our cells can't do their jobs. Telomere lengthening involves several biological processes such as autophagy, blastema growth and mitosis, conferring upon individuals who fast longer lifespans. People with short telomeres are more susceptible to diseases and have shorter lifespans. Moreover, the activation of telomere elongation positively correlates with stem cell pluripotency. Pluripotent stem cells are master cells which can differentiate into the three basic body layers. This means that they can potentially produce any cell the body needs to repair itself or “self-renew”. Fasting, hence, boosts stem cell regeneration, increasing the body’s ability replace senescent cells (old and dying cells), thus revitalizing the body.
Figure: Telomeres (Credits: Buzzle)
The spiritual dimension to fasting
Undeniably, fasting has a spiritual dimension to it and it is fascinating how the ancients, out of sheer wisdom, made it sine qua non to every significant religious ceremony, ritual or festival in Hinduism. Hinduism famously recommends a blanket avoidance of all meat in one’s diet prior to religious ceremonies, and this includes fish and eggs. Meat-eating, according to Hinduism, invokes a carnal instinct in one’s consciousness and blunts the sentiment of compassion in human beings. Cutting down on meat also, simultaneously, has the direct benefit of giving animals a much-needed break, saving gallons of water used for animal agriculture, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. No wonder, Albert Einstein himself said that nothing can be more beneficial to human society than the wholesale adoption of a vegetarian diet! The underlying spiritual purpose of this prescription is to encourage the spirit of sacrifice and the promotion of spirit over flesh.
Figure: Vegetarian prasadam (Credits: Iskcon Desire Tree)
Ekadashi – a spiritual template for fasting
Ekadashi falls on the eleventh day of the lunar cycle and is popularly observed by all Vaishnavas (devotees of Lord Vishnu). It involves - aside from the usual abstinence from meat - refraining from eating grains as well, i.e rice, pulses, etc. On this day, the waxing of the moon is at its strongest point (Purnima) and its influence is most significant on the body. The moon has an influence on the waves in the ocean, which are higher on full moon day. Especially with the waxing moon, the gravitational pull of the moon on water bodies keeps increasing. Because the human body is 70% water, the moon has a strong influence on the body and mind. The moon also represents the mind in Vedic astrology and has a direct relationship with it.
Figure: Lunar cycles (Credits: Indus Scrolls)
When the stomach is kept empty on this eleventh day of the lunar cycle, it promotes detoxification of the body. And when we specifically stay away from grains and lentils while fasting, we can successfully eliminate all the toxins from our body since grains, by virtue of requiring a lot of water for their cultivation are capable of retaining a lot of water in our gut. The intensity of the Ekadashi fast can be proportionately increased by avoiding solid fruits or nuts, ingesting only fruit juices or lemonades, sipping only water or dropping water altogether (also called a “nirjal upvaas” or no-water fast) - adding enhanced effects to the fast.
It is worth noting that Ekadashis are observed twice a month and there is a fifteen day interval between two successive Ekadashis, totalling twenty four in a year. Interestingly, science also recommends a fifteen day interval between two successive fasts (see end of article for reference). When something happens at the intersection of science and spirituality, you know that it's cutting-edge!
Meditation – the cherry on the cake
However, one may ask why did Hinduism urge people in general to pray and meditate more on these days of fasting. There is an essential psychological reason behind it as well. Observing a fast requires mental strength since one needs to be able to withstand the deprivation of food it entails. Prayer and meditation boosts one’s morale and the austerity acquires spiritual meaning. When something is done with a positive approach and in spiritual consciousness, it primes one’s being for spiritual advancement. The gravitational pull on the human body coupled with meditation raises one’s life energies to the ‘summum bonum’, hence creating the ideal condition for the soul to transcend its material limits on these days.
A Puranic story
In Puranic lore, there is an ancient story behind Ekadashi and it is a very empowering one - especially for women. The story recounted in the Garga Samhita goes like this. Once, there was a very powerful demon by the name of Mura who overtook Amravati,city of Lord Indra, king of the demigods. The demon’s powers were so fierce that it was impossible for the demigods to defeat him despite numerous attempts, and so they approached Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, their ultimate shelter, for a solution. Lord Vishnu, seeing their plight, promised to help and asked Indra to accompany him to the dwelling of the demon Mura. There, he engaged in combat with Mura for ten thousand celestial years and finally defeated Mura, who lay unconscious. Meanwhile, Lord Vishnu felt tired and left for Badrikashram to rest.
However, Mura soon regained consciousness and traced out the whereabouts of Lord Vishnu. Seeing the latter lying down asleep, Mura resolved to kill Lord Vishnu who had vanquished countless demonic rulers before him. However, just as he took out his sword, he was blinded by a fierce bright light which emanated from Vishnu. This dazzling effulgence revealed the form of a woman and she was dressed like a warrior with a bow, arrows and a dazzling sword. She engaged in a ruthless battle with the demon Mura and just as the latter thought he would defeat the warrior goddess, she was faster than him and her sword slashed through the air and beheaded him.
Figure: Ekadashi Devi beheading the demon Mura (Credits: Acyuta Gopi)
When Lord Vishnu woke up from his sleep, he found the goddess next to him with folded hands and asked her who she was. She revealed that she was born from His own body and that she was the one who had killed Mura. Astonished and at the same time, pleased by her service, Lord Vishnu told his servant to ask for a benediction. The female goddess, concerned about the welfare of all living beings, asked for the boon of eradicating all the sins of one who honours her on this day. Since that day was Ekadashi, Lord Vishnu declared that henceforth she would be known as Ekadashi Devi and whoever observes a fast on this day will be able to overcome their gravest sins, no matter how great. This is how Ekadashi gained prominence as the main vrat or fast for Vishnu devotees. Even Srimati Radharani, consort of Lord Krishna, the original Vishnu, herself recommends to all devotees to observe Ekadashi in order to attain pure love of God.
Conclusion
The Ekadashi template proves that there is much scientific and spiritual basis behind religious fasts. Modern science, and people generally, cannot fully comprehend the fascinating reasons behind our rituals and practices. That science took a long time to catch up to the benefits of fasting speaks volumes of the standards of science itself. It will take a long time for modern science to fully catch up to the wisdom of ancient spiritual cultures such as the Vedic culture. Till it actually does, it might as well admit the superior nature of God’s ways...
Om Tat Sat
© N.P Gukhool
(This Sat-Shila Ekadashi – 08 February 2021)
Disclaimer: Before starting any fasting regimen, always discuss with your physician, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions.
Further references: -
The Author: Nithin Prakash Gukhool (Krishna Leela Prakash)
The Guru: His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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