Fasting doesn’t fully capture your vrat. Infact, the word fasting isn't the right English translation for the term vratam at all. In Sanskrit, “vratam or vrat” means a vow, commitment or a resolution, taken as an act of religious devotion, austerity or self discipline. Fasting is just about skipping meals but vrat is about taking control of attachments—whether it’s food, binge-watching, social media, or any form of serious addictions. When we get too attached to something, it starts to mess with us. Vratam is that conscious decision to abstain from it. It’s more about mastering your urges and habits rather than letting them run the show. So yeah, do not put a boundary to your vrat practices by calling it fasting.
Why Vratam Is Practised?
Now that we’ve cleared up the meaning of vratam, let’s talk about why it’s done. When you detach yourself from something you're deeply attached to, it strengthens you physically and mentally. It shows that your mind has the power to control your body’s desires. The mind is sookshma (intangible) that has no limits and when it grows stronger, it can do things beyond your imagination whereas the body is tangible that has its limits. That’s why we say "mind over matter."
Our ancestors were masters of vrat and wrote extensively about it in the puranas. They believed that when you abstain yourself of your attachment, especially when it’s within reach, that’s when you truly rise above others. You may think it’s like asking a kid to study while their friends are out having fun so that the kid will rise above its peers. You’re right, it is like that and beyond. Learning to control your mind and body can only be taught by a guru, but not all of us have a guru. That’s why the ancients introduced the practice of vratam. It allows you to control your mind and body without the guidance of a guru, leading to enlightenment.
Ketu is the karaka of Vratam. That's why Ketu’s transit over Jupiter makes one spiritual, a practioner of sorts. You can only be free when you are detached. Otherwise, even if God stands before you offering liberation, you won’t be interested.
You have to start with small acts of abstinence and gradually build up to bigger attachments. Vrat helps you to be detached while being attached. There are different forms of vrat practices that allow you to live a fulfilled material life while being detached (letting go whenever required).
Why Fasting is Easy?
Among all forms of vrat, abstaining from food aka fasting is the easiest and still incredibly powerful (though not necessarily the most) vrat. Why is it powerful? Because food is the body’s fuel. When you can command your body to go without it, you’re proving that your mind is in control. And when the mind takes charge, nothing can stop it. But we live in a world where the body runs the show. If you think it’s your mind making the decisions about your food then you're being fooled. The mind just wants energy, the raw fuel to keep going. It doesn’t care about taste, aroma, or cuisine. That’s your body talking, specifically your tongue craving those sensations.
God doesn't want you to be hungry. The vratam we practise is for our benefit, it makes us stronger and wiser, it allows us to gain back the control over our mind and body.
Types of Vratam
There are three primary types of vratas such as manasa vrata (mind related), vachika vrata (speech related), and kayika vrata (body related). Our mind, speech and the body are the three modes through which we perform our actions like thinking, speaking, and performing. When these three are in perfect harmony, you reach a divine state, you align with the higher self.
Among these, kayika vrat is the easiest to start with. It’s physical, involving your body, so you naturally become more careful and conscious. It’s tangible, and you can see the immediate effects, making it easier to stay conscious of your actions. So always start with that and once you master it, move to vachika vrat, and finally, the most challenging manasa vrat.
Mastering Kayika
Kayika (body-related) vrat goes far beyond just fasting. It involves a wide range of abstinences that deal with physical actions. It’s about exercising restraint in everything you do with your body. For example, not harming an insect or animal, even if it hurts you, or resisting the urge to punch someone back when they punch you. In essence, kayika vrata is about controlling your physical impulses, whether it's about food or how you react in the world.
The result of a proper kayika vrata is that your body becomes fully aligned with your mind and speech. When you’ve mastered that, the next step is vachika vrata, or controlling your speech. Vak or vachika vrata involves speaking the truth. But before we dive into that, let’s focus on the kayika for now.
You're good to go! Start your vrat today—take a step forward on this path, and you’ll see wonders. You can start with fasting or any form of kayika vrata that involves controlling your body. If you involve God in this process, it becomes even more powerful—like having a witness to your commitment. And if you don’t believe in God, then be your own witness and begin anyway. The key is starting.
Power of Kayika Vratam
The magic of kayika vrata lies in its ability to help you master control over your body through your mind and words. Once you achieve this, it’ll reflect on the people around you as well. In other words, when your body is aligned with your mind and speech, the people around you may start to resonate with that energy—they’ll be more likely to listen to your mind and words too. Of course, this raises some ethical dilemmas, so let’s not dig into it right now. Just remember, mastering kayika vrata is easy and worthwhile.
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