Ramana Maharshi's Advice Regarding Fasting

Suri Nagamma used to fast on Ekadasi, Sivarathri, Kartikai star day,Monday and other such occasions.Those days, it would so happen that many proof readings of Telugu prints would come to the Asram.

Those days, Bhagavan used to do the proof reading Himself.When someone asked why Bhagavan had not given them to Suri Nagamma, He would say: "O poor thing. She is fasting today!"

After sometime,she realized that the service for Guru was more noble than fasting.

Even Kunju Swami had told her that Bhagavan Ramana would not give any work to him on the fasting days.He was shown the verse 3 of Ulladu Narpadu - Anubandham by Bhagavan Ramana.

One day, a devotee asked the purport behind such fasting.

Bhagavan replied:"All these things are only to control the senses.In afasting person, the senses will be more subdued and will not go out, and the mind will be non vacillating.But best thing is to control the mind.Where is the mind? Where is the body?Where is the Jiva? It is all in the Self.Food alone does not make up one's determinations, thoughts.The very "fasting"of determinations, doubts and thoughtsalone would control the mind. Even otherwise we are the Self.All these ideas, are only to be in the Self.If the Self is understood,all food controls are unnecessary."

He also said that Sat Sangh is more sublime than the poojas,sacrifices, abulations and pooja, bhajans, nama chantings, which are only secondary in nature.

Source: Sri Ramanasramam - Vazhvum Ninaivum, Tamil.