Fasting in Jainism or Upavāsa, is more than just a spiritual practice

Fasting in Jainism or Upavāsa, is more than just a spiritual practice.

It's also backed by science. It helps purify the soul and strengthen self-discipline, it also offers some cool health benefits. 

Benefits of Fasting:

• Cleanses the body
• Repairs and renews cells
• Boosts metabolism
• Improves focus and mental clarity
• Strengthens the immune system

Honestly, after learning all this, I was pretty eager to give it a try myself, even though fasting for three days straight sounds like a big challenge! But not impossible!

Here are few highlights of how my 3 days went!

Day1:

My day started off pretty well and honestly, I didn’t feel hungry at all. But when the lunchtime came around, the hunger hit me hard—my stomach was burning, and it wasn’t fun. 

To distract myself, I turned on a podcast by Ranveer Allahbadia and Gauranga Das about the Bhagavad Gita (you should definitely check it out!). Their words really motivated me and I thought, “This is just a test, nothing else!”

Throughout the day, I noticed that I didn’t feel like arguing with anyone. My usual anger and irritation were way lower and I felt more at peace.

Dinner time was tough again, hunger kicked in right on schedule. I realized my body was just used to eating at certain times, like breakfast, lunch and dinner and therefore the burning sensations were there.

But I took a deep breath stayed focused and reminded myself why I’m doing this. I did some rituals and prayed, asking for strength to stick to my goal.

Day2:

I woke up feeling drained, like all my energy was gone. But every time I thought about why I’m doing this, it gave me the push I needed to keep going. Yesterday, I was drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, but today, I didn’t even feel the urge to drink any.

Day3: 

Day 3 was all about pushing through. Every hour felt like it had hundreds of minutes long. When I was busy, it was a bit easier to let go of that feeling, but sitting idle was a huge challenge. My brain and body both felt like they were on fire. Rose water really helped, but by night, I craved for water so badly. It felt like everything was burning from the inside.

I noticed something interesting while fasting

I didn’t have any negative thoughts or anxiety about what might happen. It felt strange but also kind of magical. Now I understand why fasting is so important in our religion. It helps us let go of negative energy, the urge to argue and instead find peace in everything. Guided meditation, yoga and a few mantras really helped to keep me calm and focused too.

Disclaimer:- The experiences shared above are purely personal. The effects of fasting can vary based on individual mental and physical health. Please consider your own well-being and undertake fasting at your own risk. 

After fasting for more than two days, it's crucial to take care of your gut health when you start eating again. Gradually reintroduce food to avoid any digestive issues and help your body adjust smoothly.