Devotee’s question: You mentioned Dhruva Maharaja stopped eating, drinking and breathing - is it possible for us to take vows and if it is needed how much is needed?Kadamba Kanana Swami: Yes there are vows in devotional service that one can take and such vows are being observed by Acharyas. On Ekadasis they were following quite strictly. It is said for example Srinivas Acharya
would sit with a group of devotees on Ekadasis and they would chant all day and all night non stop and they would tie there shikas with strings to the ceilings!
So one can take such vows. But the greatest vow is the vow to ‘Distribute Mercy’
So greater than fasting is somehow or other distributing the mercy everywhere – so that is
our focus. So if the fasting reinforces our ability to give out the mercy then it is alright but if the fasting diminishes that ability then:
“Eat and Eat and Eat!”
But if eating begins to diminsh our ability to distribute the mercy then:
“Fast and Fast and Fast!”
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27th October 2010, Vrndavana)
