Scientific and Spiritual Importance of NAVRATRA & Fasting during NAVRATRA

Do we know why Navratra is celebrated Twice a Year?

It is a well-known fact that every year i.e. beginning of summer and the beginning of winter are two very important junctures of climatic change and solar influence. These two junctions have been chosen as the sacred opportunities for the worship of the divine power because of scientific reasoning: —-
(1) We believe that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun, causing the changes in the outer nature and that this divine power must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe.
(2) Due to the changes in the nature, the bodies and minds of people undergo a considerable change, and hence, we worship the divine power to bestow upon all of us enough potent powers to maintain our physical and mental balance.
As per Ayurveda studies it is observed that during this time eating foods like meat, grains, alcohol, onion, garlic etc. etc. will attract and absorb negative energies and hence should be avoided because during these days our bodies tend to have low immunity and are therefore more susceptible to fall sick. Due to this fact during period of NAVRATRA we fast (व्रत अथवा उपवास) and worship for cleansing and purification not just for our body but for our mind and soul too for maintaining well-being, harmony and perfect balance. When we our self deny eating certain type of foods then we are breaking the pattern which we have been following from months or years. This instrumental change with positive intentions ignites a new self-discipline in our behavior for our good. It is true that nine days in NAVARATRA are referred to sins/devils (काम-Lust, क्रोध-Anger, लोभ-Greed, मोह-Attachment, अंहकार-Ego, डर-Fear,ईर्ष्या-Jealousy,जड़ता-Inertia, and नफरत-Hate, that live inside our own mind and can be overcome by training ourselves in a way that enhances internal purification. Besides this Fasting is the safest way to shed those extra pounds and control the structure of our body. It helps in improving our metabolism rate to burn through calories effectively and it also strengthens our immune system enhancing more healing in our body.

Edited and Compiled by— Dr J.K. Garg

Reference—-Various news papers, Conversations with saints etc.