Principle of fasting
Chapter 7 - Kriya Yoga
Day 53
The third type of fire is called Jataraagni - the fire of hunger and digestion. This is one of the important principles in Ayurveda - Jataraagni. If the fire of digestion is less or more, it affects your health and your balance. When there is fever, we just treat the symptoms. We do not understand the principles involved.
When a foreign body enters your body, it turns up the heat and there is fever. During a fever, your body is operating its defence mechanism. It is burning up all the foreign bacteria and viruses that have entered it. As soon as they are destroyed, the fever comes down. It purifies the system by getting rid of the foreign matter. Jataraagni - fire of digestion.
You don't even allow hunger to come up in you. You keep stuffing things into yourself even before you are hungry. This makes you more toxic and your body is affected. Many people get disease or die because of overeating and not of hunger. Nowadays, very few people die of hunger. However, more and more people die of overeating, because they have not let the fire of hunger come up. We have never kindled that fire.
This is the principle of fasting. When you fast, every cell of your body becomes alive. It is a very good therapy. It can cleanse your system. The Jataraagni can cleanse you of all toxins. When your head is clogging with worry, tensions and unpleasant thoughts or nightmares, fasting is a very great help. Much research has been done on fasting. You should fast and allow the Jataraagni to come up in you.
It can purify your blood and remove toxins from your body. It can help you feel better. Fasting and prayers are linked in Christianity, Jainism, Islam, and in almost all the religions of the world. This is because fasting touches the deepest samskara, or impression present in you from ages - to eat, eat and just eat.
There are some people who just go on fasting without being aware of the connected factors, too much fire also can burn you down. Fasting should be done with an understanding. There are people who go to extremes. Either they overeat or fast too much. Neither is good. Fasting, with moderation and guidance can cleanse your system and bring balance.
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji
PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS