gender differential paper IJCRB

ijcrb.webs.com
JUNE 2011
INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS VOL 3, NO 2
Fasting has been practiced from antiquity worldwide by the founders and followers of
many religions. In the religions of ancient people and civilizations, fasting was a practice to
prepare persons, especially priests and priestesses to approach the deities.
In the Hellenistic mystery religions, the gods often revealed their divine teaching in
dreams and visions only after a fast that required the total devotion of the devotees.(24)
Like prayer fasting has also been a compulsory part of the Shariah of Prophets for old
times. (25)
Fasting in Different Religions:-
Fasting has been somehow in vogue in all, religions before Islam because all religions
regard starvation and meditation necessary for spiritual development. No world religion has
encouraged abundant eating. Even uncivilized nations, where there is no concept of any
religion, have been found somehow practicing fasting.
Our discussion here will take into account the concept of fasting in different religions
of the world.
Fasting in Hinduism:-
Hinduism is regarded as the oldest religion in world religions. Many of its rites and
rituals started in 6th century B.C or later, but it carries one or the other form of all religions.
It does not have any remarkable founder. But inspite of all this we see that there exists an act
of fasting for two days in each month on 11th and 12th for Brahmans.
The fasting is known as Akadas. This makes 24 fasts round the year. In Hinduism,
fasting is only for Brahmans. Non-brahmans are exception. Some Brahmans observe fast on
each Monday in Katak کاتک which lasts from 17th october till 15th November. The Hindu
ascetics, going for mystic seclusion, observe fasting for 40 days.(26)
There are some other kinds of fasting as well in accordance with the purpose, for the
achievements of cherished desires, and duration. Sometimes, personal or political goals are
sought through fasting. Mohandas Gandhi of India used fasting both as a penance and as a
means of political protest. (27)
Apwas Fasting:-
Apwas means to be hungry. It is a fasting of mild class. The person observing it
specifies a day and pronounces the name of that supernatural being to whom he wants to gift
his fasting, for instance some god or goddess. The person observing fast eats lunch one day
before fasting and then after picking his teeth intends for fasting for the next day and stops
eating. This lunch is like pre-dawn meals. The next day after taking a bath the fasting person
performs the day duties, takes water in his palm and throws it in all directions. The next day
after sun rise he has the authority to break his fast at that time or at noon. If it lasts till noon
then it is named as Lakant rather than Apwas.(28)
Parak fasting:-
In it, the fasting person eats lunch on three consecutive days, for the next three days
eats only dinner and then for the following three days observes fast. There is also another fast
same to Parak, namely Karchara but it is for only four days.(29)
Chandrabin fasting:-
It is observed on the day of full moon. Maswas is also of the same kind.(30)
Fasting in Judaism:-
Our discussion here will be about the nature and duration of fasting in Judaism.
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