Dr. Mantena's Light on Fasting

I have been regularly posting updates on the super medicine called fasting from quite some time now. In my previous update “Fasting Dr. Mantena’s Way” I tried to explain some of the queries that come across me from the readers and at the same time mentioned certain tips and suggestions to be followed during fasting. I hope many of your doubts might have been clarified in that post. Still there are certain issues that are to be looked into while practicing a fast. There is a wonderful CD of Dr. Mantena Satyanarayana Raju called “Lankanam Parama Aushadham”. You can find this CD from any of the franchisees of Dr. M.S. Raju or you can log on to www.manthenasatyanarayanaraju.org to order the CD’s online. Unfortunately the CD is available only in Telugu.

Dr. Raju has explained all the facts and concerns of fasting in that CD in great detail. In the mean time let us try to throw some light on fasting by Dr. Manthena Satyanarayana Raju.

Who and When to Fast?

You might have so far learned many facts on fasting through my previous blogs. But still many of you might be in dilemma whether or not to begin fasting. When and how do I begin fasting? Do I really need fasting to cleanse my body? Is it safe to fast without proper guidance?” These sorts of questions might be bothering most of you. Here is the solution for all such queries in Dr. Mantena’s Light on Fasting.

It is discussed in most of my previous blogs that a regular fasting is very healthy for our body and therefore one should fast at regular basis and how the Indian ancestors embedded this great science of fasting in our customs and traditions. We often send our vehicles to the garage or service stations for repairs and maintenance at regular intervals. We are very concerned about the vehicles that carry us to the destination of our work. But are we that concerned about ‘the body’ – the vehicle that carries us to the destination of our life? Hold a hand on your heart and ask yourself “do I equally love ‘the body - the vehicle of life’ as the way I do with the vehicle of machine?” Fasting at regular intervals cleanse and repairs the body similar to the way our vehicles are serviced at regular intervals. Long fasting is like repairing the engine of your vehicles. Smaller repairs can be done by any amateur mechanic or service person but when the engine gets repaired it has to be done by a specialized technician or mechanic in a well equipped service station. Similarly, you can undertake smaller repairs like single day fasting on your own at home without any risk. For serious engine like repairs to your body or longer fasting, your experience isn’t going to get enough. You need the experienced and specialized team of doctors at your disposal. Nature Cure Ashrams and hospitals are best for such fasts. Please do not repeat fasting for more than 1 day at home on your own. It is not advisable. You might feel it easy and comfortable but do not undertake longer fasts without proper guidance. Let us now try to learn who should fast, when to undertake fasting and for how many days:

(1) Fasting once in a week: All those individuals who are obese, all the office goers and businessmen who work in shelter under the fans, air conditioners and air coolers, all those who have bad body odors, all those who eat their dinner at late hours of 10PM - 11PM, all those foodies who enjoy non-vegetarian food must fast once in a week in order to repair and clean their body internally. According to Dr. Raju Sunday is the best day for fasting. Fasting on Sundays reap number of benefits. People tend to eat more junk on Sundays and holidays as they either cook vast varieties of food at home or go out for lunch or dinner. If you fast on Sundays you get away with the junk that might have gone in your stomach thereby saving your time and money. At the same time women at home get relieved of their cooking and cleaning work. Ultimately the body gets enough rest to repair and cleanse the inner system. If you are fasting on Sunday, please don’t stay awake till midnight 11PM or 11-30PM on Saturday and eat all the stuff you might have ate on Sundays. Eat seasonal fruits on every Saturday at 5PM - 6PM as dinner. No further eating please. People in India especially the south; don’t call it a dinner if they don’t finish it up with rice. The fruits get digested by 7PM to 8PM and the body begins its night duty of cleaning and repairing from 8PM onwards on Saturday itself which is very beneficial. Continue fasting on Sunday as described in my previous blogs and take your usual vegetable juices and sprouts in the breakfast on Monday. People with high calories can remain on fruit juices and fruits throughout the day in breakfast, lunch and dinner. Do according to your convenience.

(2) Fasting once in a Fortnight: All those who work hard in the sunlight, wind and dust to earn their livelihood, people who are lean and weak, children and individuals aged above 60 can fast every ekadasi (11^th day of the month) or twice a month.

(3) Fasting the next day after Festival and other Ceremonies: Indians do not need a reason to celebrate. No country in the world might have had so many festivals and ceremonies than India. Out of the lot we have some major festivities once in a while during the year. The major the festival, the bigger is the list of dishes, desserts and cuisine. The women of India leave no stone unturned to cook all varieties of delicacies to please their men and children. No individual would like to let the opportunity to eat so many delicacies go. Therefore they eat everything that is offered and end up suffering in the next day or the day after from all sorts of indigestion and gastric troubles. Therefore, every individual is advised to fast the next day after such festivities and functions like marriages or birth days or anniversaries etc. The way you clean your house after the festivals, marriages and other functions clean your body by fasting.

(4) Other Occasions: Whenever you feel uneasy, unhealthy, sick, unwilling to eat, suffer from gastric and digestive disorders etc. remain on fast without a second thought. Don’t eat forcefully and spoil your body. Give rest to your body by fasting and all your worries are looked after by the body.

Who should not fast?

Now let us look into the other side of the coin and learn who should not fast? All those people who are suffering from diabetes especially those who are on insulin, those who are addicted to coffee and tea (till they sacrifice them and overcome headaches), those who consume medicines for certain ailments, those who are very feeble and weak, those who have very low in blood, feeding mothers, those who often feel dizzy are not advised to fast. All these people are first advised to follow the dietary regimen of Dr. M.S. Raju; improve their condition and can try fasting when they have gained good health and confidence.

I tried to bring in few more facts about fasting through this post. I hope this will help you in practicing the healthy way of living. Keep fasting and keep watching the space for more updates.