Hindu Ashrams/Organizations
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Hindu Ashrams/Organizations
Vrat & Vrat Katha
The fasting aspect of Vrat makes the mind strong and increases its firmness. Vrats are an important part of modern Hindu life. Mostly it includes a change in diet--sometimes through fasting, and other times by eating or avoiding certain types of food. Most important part is worshipping the presiding deity . Part of this worship usually involves reading or hearing the Vrat Katha or stories of fast. Every fast is usually associated with one or more Vrat Kathas that Hindus listen to while performing prayers and then only brake their fast. These fast stories or vrat kathas are a form of pooja to the the presiding deity.
What is Vrat ?
Disciplines such as religious fasting etc. that entail merits are generally
called Vrat. To accept some rules of discipline is in itself a Vrat. For any
advancement in life we have to accept some restrictive disciplines. A river
is bound by the banks, tree is bound to earth, the strings of Sitar (musical
instrument) are also bound and thereby music is produced. The essence of
Himadri-Vrat chapter describes Vrat as a special undertaking, keeping some
goal in mind, and making a resolution about it. In the spiritual field, to
apply control over the pleasures of our sense organs, a solemn vow to
observe regulatory discipline- that is Vrat.