ABSTINENCE AND SHRAVAN
Abstinence and Shravan
A week into the month of Shravan, my thoughts raced to the eve of Shravan 2020. This was a
year of many firsts for me. One amongst them was ‘keeping
Shravan’. It all started suddenly like
most things, unplanned and unthought-of for the previous half of my life
(pre-50!). A friend mentioned ‘keeping Shravan’. I was like “You and Shravan?” and after a few exchanges of texts it was “I am
joining you this Shravan!”. Thus, the
story of my 'Shravan 'began. Impromptu like many other things in my life.
Shravan symbolizes
‘Abstinence’ to most of us. Abstinence from the goodies of life and leading a ‘Sattvic’
existence as my friend put it. It is supposed to cleanse our body (digestive
system) and our mind as we learned to exercise control on our minds. Is
it? Are we really able to control our
minds? Or, is the focus only on the food that we consume during this period?
I want to
draw attention to this aspect of Shravan.
It is meant to reboot our body and soul. The time is ideal (Rains!) It's pouring
outside and much cannot be achieved outdoors in terms of farming, traveling, yajnas,
poojas, etc. and so the focus is inwards.
(Now, things are different, though, covid seems to have put us in a similar spot). Not much to be done
outside. We are at home most of the time.
Back then,
it was a time for idling. (now we don’t have such luxuries). An idle mind is a devil’s
workshop. Our ancestors knew this and so
they asked us to work on the insides during this time. Abstinence was the tool meant to help us with this inner work(will power) so that our energies are focused
inwards. This is my understanding of Shravan.
Abstinence
helps us strengthen our willpower. Agreed. But should it be limited to our choice of food? This Shravan can we take this truly inwards? Abstain from anger, greed, negativity, wickedness, lies, and more. How about that?
This Shravan let us abstain from one negative behavior (our choice!) for a whole month (It takes 21 days to break a habit/or form a new one). Like one of those challenges, we see on social media! This I believe will be in the true spirit of ‘SHRAVAN’.
Food for thought this Shravan my friends. Ruminate over it!
I surely
will. How about you?
HAPPY
SHRAVAN FRIENDS!
Very well said Suja di! Especially the conclusion. Abstinence of food or drinks would have been symbolic, representative of the larger things in life. Also, of course, Shravan is also the breeding season for sea beings and more. So, I suppose in the food cycle, it does make sense.
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ReplyDeleteThat's true idle mind is a devils
ReplyDeleteworkshop.keeping ourselves busy even religiously is very important. Ur doing a great job 👏
Good ver nice n interesting to know.
ReplyDeleteI m following Shravan very strictly.
But in my Karwar n few near by Konkan side. We do every Monday Shambo Shankara's pooja with proper fasting. On other days during Shravana we don't eat Non veg like Mutton Chicken eggs.... But we only eat fish. This is the tradition as per Karwaris
Beautifully explained!
ReplyDeleteVery well explained. Our festival and fasting are all designed to religiously make us look inwards, being one with supreme power
ReplyDeleteGood one
ReplyDeleteVery well written and explained Suja
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ReplyDeleteWe are what we eat!
Shravan is a month of abstinence and self control, similar to Lent of Christians and Roza of Muslims. Turning vegetarian is one practice in abstinence, the reason for which is both scientific as well as religious.
Fasting gives rest to organs and flushes out toxins as generally meats place tremendous load on the digestive system.
Besides meat, fish and alcohol, food items like garlic, onion etc. are also given up in the quest for being ‘satvik’, which allows one to remain pure and calm.
But equally important is to be pure in thoughts, action and deeds.
Nature has given us this opportunity to introspect and cleanse our mind and spirit apart from our bodies.