I don’t quite understand the concept of doing vrats. Many women around me observe fasts on Mondays, Thursdays, and other specific days. These fasts are usually done with a particular intention—like, “I’ll fast for 5 Mondays, please help my husband get a job.” And surprisingly, after completing the 5 Mondays, their wish often comes true. This strengthens their belief that the fasting made it happen, and then they start encouraging others to do it too🙄.

People say and do all kinds of things for fulfilling their wishes. When things happen the way they wanted, they believe in it more, and the paradox is that the more one believes in it, the greater the chances that it may materialise. The reason is not so much the fasting or the ritual they engaged in but the belief, the confidence they placed in the process or the deity. It is akin to the placebo effect wherein the credit goes to the doctor and the medicine where what really worked is faith.

This is not to say vrata and fasting or the doctor and medicine have no value. Everything has its place and value. But these things should not be equated with spirituality or God who teaches us how to be always happy and peaceful regardless of what we have or have not. Anyways He is the ultimate dispenser of all boons. So why not ask Him directly. If in His Wisdom He chooses to grant our wish, then so be it. And if He does not because He feels it is not good for us then perhaps we have been saved from something that we were ignorantly asking for. Isn’t it then best to turn to Him directly for all our material and spiritual wants? 

Affectionately,

Alok Da