Amavasyopasana or Full Moon / New Moon Fasting a scientific Approach

Observance of Amavasyopasana- a scientific Approach.

Principles of AmavasyopasanaHow to Observe Amavasyopasana How to cook Anna Prasadam Most Important Benefits from observing Amavasayopasana Conclusion The main difference between the view points of western scientists and India Ascetics lies in their way of approach to truth. While the western view the world through telescopes / Indian Rishis preferred to look them through Microscope. The Macrocosmic view of the world is like searching outside for solutions and there by lack depth and insight while the Micro – cosmic view of Indian Rishis searching inside themselves for one and only truth brought the invaluable gems of knowledge to the world.

Fasting is observed nowadays as per the western point of view. The word “Fasting ” is derived from Greek term “FASTEN” which means foregoing food. AS per the western point of view fasting means either foregoing or limiting food for personal and religious reasons and many wrongly call this as “Upavasa”. Naturopathic treatment includes fasting for various diseases which are also also wrongly called as UPAVASA. some other observe fastiing as a protest and part of their agitational programme and call it Upavasa. We must now know the difference between fasting and Upavasa.

Upavasa includes two words, ‘Upa’ which means Near and ‘Vasa’ which means Sitting. Thus the meaning of Upavasa is sitting near. The Rishis viewed Upavasa or True fasting as a way to lead us to God. Or in other words one who observes Upavasa in its true sense is becoming one with the nature and reaches near God and thereby is able to escape from the sorrows and problems of his life. It is a worship of God, and to be observed as longg as you breath and dine, at specified days as per the advice of a true Guru.

‘Amavasyopasane’ forms the basis of all kinds of worship. Limiting or foregoing food in the western style of fasting may bring physical benefits but ‘Amavasyopasana’ takes you to the spiritual heights and brings prosperity by influencing the ‘Navagrahas’ that is nine celestial planets

OBSERVANCE OF AMAVASYOPASANA – A SCIENTIFIC APPROACH.

There is a plant called somalatha in India which is inevitable for doing yagas and yagnas. The plant starts growing for the next day of Amavasi and attains full growth on Pournami. Thereafter it slowly starts shedding its leaves and becomes inert on Amavasi. This continues through out the life of this plant. This happens due to the influence of moon and sun on this plant. The same way Sun, Moon and other celestical bodies influence human beings also.

Accidents and untimely deaths are more common on new moon / full moon days or days nearer to these. Diseases such as Asthma get worse on these days. People get affected by incurable diseases, and small illness sometime get worse during this time. Pet animal shows behavioral abnormalities and shows inclination to mating in the same period.Natural calamities such as earth quake, Storms, Tsunami etc strike earth on large scale on new moon / full moon days. We have the examples of Lathur earth quake which demolished many villages. and Tsunami of Dec 26th by which the world was immersed in grief. Both happened on full moon days.

Now, Guru Baba by his intense Tapa or penance and the blessing of Almighty has given to mankind a precious gem of knowledge to over come evil celestial afflictions. This is called Amavasyopasana.

70% of earth is water, mainly oceans / seas. The celestial planets and stars even light years away has got influence on every drop of water in the ocean.
Tides and refluxes in ocean happen due to the attraction of sun and moon. Sun is 27 millions times greater in size than moon. Still the attraction of moon is greater since it is nearer to earth. The influence of moon is greater on new moon / full moon days.

Though the moon attracts the earth and brings tides it is not uniform through out the world. At some places the tides vary from 40-50 feet. At some other place it is 10-20 feet and certain places it is only inches. For example, at the Atlantic end of Panama canal the tides usually rise up to 2 feet only where as just 40 miles away in Pacific end the tides vary from 12-16 feet.We have a great lesson from this. Similar to 70 percent of water in earth, our human body is also having 70 percent of water. As the influence of moon brings tides, in the same way the influence of celestial planets brings happiness and sorrows to human beings. And the influence certainly varies form person to person. That is why some one born on the same day on which prime mister is born is struggling for his lively hood, while some other person is leading a luxurious life.
The afflictions of 9 celestial planets(Nava Graha) on your birth chart is the major cause of good and bad events in your life. The surest and infallible way to thwart the “Nava Graha Doshas” or evil influence of 9 celestial planets is nothing but Amavasi Upasana. If one can reduce the water content of the body below 50 percent of the normal level on new moon and full moon days, we can escape from the bad effects of evil planets and obtain the blessing of good planets.

Principles of Amavasyopasana

It is believed that all the wealth is created by God. If that is true, He must have created it for the benefit the whole world and for all who breathes.
But we see, majority of the world starving and struggling and minority living in luxury. This is nothing but contempt of God and is equal to defeating the purpose of God. To get the blessing of God, every human being whether he believes in God or not, should take a vow to help his fellow beings and work for the betterment. By way of reducing his food proportionate to the poverty level of the world Lord Guru Baba has shown the right way to help the poor. By foregoing or limiting food intake on specified days as advised by Lord Guru Baba you are in fact helping the poor and the world..
You may have doubts how you are to going to feed the poor by foregoing good for one or two days in a month. Many drops of water only makes an ocean. When a large number of people observe Upavasa or True Fasting and donate the saving from this to the poor, it sure will go a long way in alleviating poverty.
Some people believe that the best way to get blessing of God is distribution of food in temples. But any offering done without limiting your luxury and restraining your full fledged life will not bear fruit.
It is much the same as treating diabetes without reducing sugar. You cannot cure diabetes by simple taking high doses of medicine, but only by limiting or foregoing sugar.

How to Observe Amavasyopasana

Amavasyopasana is fasting without water and cooked food for 2 nights and 1 day on Amavasi (New moon day)) and Pournami (Full Moon day). It starts at 6 pm on the previous day of new moon / full moon days. Up to 6 pm you can eat anything you want.. From 6 to 9 pm slowly you must come to Upavasa. For this you can take prasadam at 7 pm and 8 pm in small quantities after offering to God. The best is Sree Mookambika Annaprasadam.

How to cook Anna Prasadam

First cook green gram with water and turmeric powder. After some time put raw rice, either equal to the quantity of green gram or 2:3 proportion. After some time add scraped coconut and salt. After finishing cooking add jeera and keep it close for some time. While cooking do japa praising your Guru. At 9 pm you can take salty lime juice.
From 9 pm onwards you should not take water and cooked food till 3 am on the next day of new moon / full moon days. To get the full benefit it is better to avoid non – cooked food also. Aged people / children / physically exhausted persons can take fruits and raw vegetables during day time till 3 pm. Spend the full day of Amavasi praying God. Vow of silence is most beneficial. Go to sleep early.

Get up the next morning at 3 am. Take bath and light a lamp to Guru Baba. Prepare salty lime juice and drink slowly minimum 3 glasses to maximum 6 glasses. At 4 am and 5 am you can have Anna prasadam in small quantity. These are to be served only after offering to God. From 6 am onwards you can have any food you like.

MOST IMPORTANT

With in 10 days for observing the Upavasa, an amount equal to the value of cooked food forgone, depending on the life style of the individual should be sent to your Guru`s abide that is Guru Baba Ashramam, Guruvayur for mass feeding of poor.
Benefits from observing Amavasayopasana
1. To thwart evil planetary influences and to obtain the blessings of good planets2. To retrieve lost prosperity and to maintain prosperity.3. To enter wed lock for persons having bad planetary afflictions in their birth chart like “Chova dhosham”4. to attain unfulfilled aspirations.5. To sustain nuptial bliss.6. To do away with ‘Doshas’ from previous births and bad actions of this birth.7. To protect from evil forces and bad elements of nature8. As a remedy to incurable diseases and maintain health.

CONCLUSION

Many people belongs to a Hindu religion who had become atheists or had turned to other religions due to various setbacks of loss and failures in their life, were advised by Lord Gurubaba to observe the 'Amavasi Upasana'. The 'AMAVASOPASANA' had made unbelievable changes and brightened the lives of the devotees. It is undeniable truth that all who had properly observed the 'Amavasi Upsana' had succeeded in life. This is the base of all type of Temple worship. Any type of Idol worship is meaningless unless it is accompanied by 'Amavasi Upsana'. During Vedic periods Hindus and most of the sages or Rishis followed 'Amavasi Upasana'. It was a time when there was prosperity and happiness in the society. Later on, when spiritual leaders get attracted themselves to the luxuries of the world and moved away from righteous ways, Hindu religion suffered setbacks. The only way to regain the lost glamour and position is by following the precious 'Amavasi Upasana'. 'Amavasi Upasana' or New Moon fasting is the surest and infallible way to relieve ourselves from planetary evils (Navagraha Doshas). Those who observe this and donates the savings from fasting for the poor through Guruababa Ashrams will always prosper in life.