Vrata. Sacred Vows And Traditional Fasts

THE HINDUS are a profoundly religious people. Their goal of life is Self-realisation or the attainment of God-consciousness. A religion of some kind they must have—a religion which will stir the depths of the heart and give room for the exercise of faith, devotion and love. All Hindu festivals have a deep spiritual import or high religious significance. All great Hindu festivals have religious, social and hygienic elements in them. In every festival there is bathing in the morning before sunrise in the river or tank or well. Every individual will have to do some Japa, prayer, Kirtan, recitation of Sanskrit verses and meditation, apart from the ever important Fasting. This book explains the significance and the philosophy of many of the fasts as enshrined in the auranic scriptures and their practice. Most of the texts included appears in the English language for the first time.