How Fasting Reduces the Malefic Effects of Planets

Fasting is the period wherein one refrains from eating and drinking. Besides innumerable health benefits, fasting bestows one with the ability to commune with a higher power. Fasting does not equate self-torment, but is the catalyst for spiritual evolution.

Our body is the miniaturized form of the entire cosmos. It is thus essential to clean it on a daily basis. Fasting not only gives your digestive system a break but also cleanses your soul and purges out toxins from your mental fabric.

Besides its usual benefits, fasting can help you recultivate the malefic energies of planets.

Every planet pulsates with particular vibrations, and your digestive fire, too, gyrates in sync with the energies radiated by these planets. But there are times when our bodies fall out of harmony with these planets and thus manifest tangible effects that are serious, and sometimes lethal. Fasting on the respective days for the planets harmonizes your digestive fire with the energy of the planets. Fasting is indeed a great way to rectify the planets that have gone crooked in your kundli.

The moon is the significator of the mind. It is through the Moon that we perceive and respond to our deepest desires. In sum total and the grossest of expressions, the placement of the Moon in your natal chart determines your mental health.

A sound Moon gives you a strong psychological balance in your life, but a malefic one is enough to cause addictions, frustrations, insecurities, and depression.

We cannot change the placement of the Moon in your natal chart, but we can surely re-cultivate the Lunar energies that exert a direct influence on your psyche. Fasting in the following way will build up your resistance against the malefic effects of the Moon in your natal chart.

Color - White, Fasting Day - Monday, God or Deity - Maa Gauri or Bhagwan Shiva, Prime mantra - Om Shram Shrim Shraum Sah Chandraya Namah.

Wake up at sunrise and get done with your cleansing rituals. It is essential that you cleanse yourself before you begin your fast. After your daily rituals, try to wear white clothes throughout the day.

Meditate on Maa Gauri or Bhagwan Shiva. To worship these two deities, you may chant the following mantras, 'Om Namah Shivay' or 'Om Hrim Shrim Glaum Gam Gauri Gim Namah'. If possible, visit the Shiva or Devi Parvati temple.

What To Eat: Try to eat one meal (preferably without salt, oil, and fried items) when you're fasting.

While eating your meal, try to keep complete focus on the food that you're eating (it will be preferable if you eat your meal after offering the prasad to the deity).

You may also eat fruits, milk, and sago (sabudana) khichdi. Avoid tea, coffee, alcohol, and other forms of intoxicants. This fast will give you greater benefits if you eat a meal consisting of milk, kheer, white fruits and other white stuff.

Try to limit the use of electronic gadgets, especially phones and television, when you're fasting on Monday. Besides meditating at sunrise, make some time to meditate on the above beej mantra throughout the day as well.

Things to donate - Donate white clothes, rice, silver items, camphor, milk, sugar, white flowers, or conch shell (shankh) to strengthen the Moon in your chart.

Mars is the planet of action. It is this planet that rules our basic instincts of survival. In sound condition, this planet enables you to persist through life's storms, take action and fully commit to your goals. Mars pulsates with raw energy and alters your inner constitution so as to propel you into 'acting'.

Now whether this planet inspires you to act deliberately or impulsively depends on its health in your natal chart.

To further build up the Martian energies or recultivate the energies that have gone awry, here is how you keep the Tuesday fast, which is one of the best remedies.

Color - Red, Fasting Day - Tuesday, God or Deity - Hanuman, Mangal Beej mantra - Om Kraam Kreem Kraum Sah Bhaumay Namah.

You may begin fasting from the first Tuesday of Shukla Paksha. For the best results, you may fast for a continuous 21 or 45 days.

To begin the fast, wake up at sunrise and get done with your cleansing rituals. After your cleansing rituals, wear red if possible for the whole day.

Keep a picture of lord Hanuman in the north-east corner of your house. Along with Him, place the pictures/idols of Lord Rama and Mata Sita. Worship the three and meditate on their form.

Offer vermilion, red colored flowers, and jasmine oil to Lord Hanuman. Light an oil lamp, burn incense, and offer the mixture of gram and jaggery to lord Hanuman.

Then, in the seated position, recite Hanuman Chalisa with complete surrender.

If possible, you may also read the Sunderkand.

You may also recite the simple mantra, 'Om Anjaneyaya Vidmahe Vayuputraya Dheemahi. Tanno Hanumat Prachodayat'.

What to eat - You may eat one meal (preferably without salt). However, the Tuesday fast will give you the best results if you eat food only made of wheat and jaggery.

Things to donate - Donate sesame seeds, red clothes, red flowers, copper, jaggery, red sandalwood, red gram, etc.

Mercury symbolizes your buddhi - the intellect. It is also the planet that gives you the power of speech and communication. Thus, Mercury is the karaka of communication, and it exercises a sizable influence on your relationships with others.

A sound Mercury in your natal chart gives you the power to learn, grasp, and communicate. On the other hand, a malefic Mercury disturbs your central nervous system, discord in the family, and deprives you of your wealth.

Color - Green, Fasting Day - Wednesday, God or Deity - Maa Durga or Shri Ganesha, Budha Beej Mantra - Om Bram Brim Braum Sah Budhaya Namah.

It is preferable to start the fast on the first Wednesday of Shukla Paksha. The most suitable span for fasting is 7 Wednesdays in a row.

Wake up at sunrise and finish your cleansing rituals. After your cleansing rituals, wear green throughout the day if possible. After bathing, keep a picture of Maa Durga or Lord Ganesha and meditate on them.

It is not essential that you install the pictures of both deities. You may choose any one for the worship depending upon your inclinations.

Offer vermilion, flowers, camphor, and sandalwood to your preferred deity. Light a ghee lamp, burn incense and offer the prasad of Modaks to Shri Ganesha or milk/kheer to Maa Durga. If you're worshipping Shri Ganesha during your fast, then it is considered highly auspicious to offer Him Durva. Then, in the seated position, you may chant the mantra, 'Om Gan Ganapataye Namah' or 'Om Durg Durgaya Namah' either 108 or 21 times.

What to eat - You may eat one meal during your fast (preferably without salt). However, the Wednesday fast will give you greater benefits if you eat a meal consisting of curd, moong dal pudding, or anything made out of green stuff. Try to avoid tea and coffee. Also, strictly avoid intoxicants. Also, try to avoid eating salt.

Things to donate on Wednesday - Paneer, sugar, edible oil, green vegetables, plants, green gram, green clothes, etc.

Jupiter is the planet of success, and thus rightly so, one of the most important in astrology. It is this planet that determines our fortune and attitude towards eminence.

Your victory and how you deal with failures depend on the health of Jupiter in your natal chart.

A well-placed Jupiter can bless you with tremendous wealth, a successful marriage, healthy offspring, and moral excellence. On the other hand, a malefic Jupiter can cause over-indulgence, drain you of your wealth, and deprive you of your wisdom.

Color - Yellow, Fasting Day - Thursday, Deity - Shri Vishnu or Devguru Brihaspati, Guru Beej Mantra - Om Gram Grim Graum Sah Gurave Namah.

You may begin fasting on the first Thursday of Shukla Paksha.

Wake up at sunrise and finish your cleansing rituals. After your cleansing rituals, wear yellow clothes throughout the day if possible.

After bathing, keep a picture of Shri Vishnu and lord Brihaspati in your home shrine and meditate on them.

Offer them yellow flowers, yellow sweets, yellow rice, turmeric, gram lentils, and dried grapes. Light a ghee lamp and burn the incense.

You may meditate on Lord Vishnu by chanting the simple mantra of 'Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya'.

After you finish worshipping, listen to the story of Shri Brihaspati.

If possible, you may also worship a banana tree by offering the turmeric water at its roots and lighting a ghee lamp. Also offer gram dal and dried grapes at the roots of the banana tree.

What to Eat - Eat one meal a day (if possible, without the salt). Your fast will give you excellent results if you eat a meal consisting of gram dal, yellow things, and yellow fruits.

Things to donate - Donate turmeric, whole chana dal, yellow clothes, saffron, yellow kheer, yellow fruits, and yellow gemstone.

Venus is the superlative orb that symbolizes beauty, art, and talent. Venus heavily influences the way we perceive things, handle our senses, and is the prime karaka for luxurious life.

Venus is an integral element for enhancing our material happiness. Its benefic placement in your natal chart gives you the power to attract wealth, a beautiful spouse, and professions related to beauty.

On the contrary, malefic Venusian energies make you lecherous, infidel, and materialistic.

Color - White, Fasting day - Friday, Deity - Maa Lakshmi or Maa Santoshi, Beej mantra - Om Draam Dreem Draum Sah Shukraya Namah.

Wake up at sunrise and finish your cleansing rituals. After your cleansing rituals, wear white clothes throughout the day if possible.

After bathing, keep a picture of Maa Lakshmi or Maa Santoshi in your home shrine and meditate on them. Offer them white flowers, white sweets, and kheer. Besides these things, you may also offer a pomegranate in the prasad.

Any of the deities you choose to worship during your Friday fast, worship duly in the evening, especially if you're worshipping Maa Santoshi.

Light a ghee lamp and burn the incense.

You may meditate by chanting the simple beej mantra of 'Om Shring Shriye Namah' for Maa Laxmi and 'Sri Santoshi Divyaya Namah' for Maa Santoshi.

If you choose to worship Maa Santoshi, then follow these directions,

Recite the story of Mata Santoshi.

Before you begin the recital, place gram and jaggery in a bowl over a vessel filled with water.

Then light a lamp and keep the jaggery and roasted gram in your hands while you recite the story.

Start the story by placing the pot of water in front of the lamp. After you complete the story, perform the arti and offer the prasad.

Before you worship Maa Santoshi, worship Lord Ganesha, the father of Maa Santoshi. Also offer your prayers to the Goddesses Riddhi and Siddhi.

What to eat - You may eat one meal through the entire fasting period (it's usually preferable that you eat after worshipping Maa Laxmi/Maa Santoshi in the evening). Try to eat a meal that is prepared without salt. Friday fast usually gives excellent results if you eat a meal consisting of milk, kheer, and white stuff. Avoid consuming sour food items on the Friday fast.

Things to donate - Silver items, curd, rice, white clothes, milk candies, and sandalwood.

Saturn is one of the most important and dreaded planets in Vedic astrology. It is the planet that purifies us by nullifying our karmic residues.

Saturn is known to cause delays in the results, but never denies it. Saturn could be perceived as a strict preceptor, but is also a benevolent giver. This planet can never go wrong with its judgments and gives one what he/she truly deserve.

The ethics, demeanor, and the quality of karma depend upon the health of Saturn in your natal chart. A benefic one will make you honest, hard-working, and experienced while a malefic one will make you sly and ill and drain you of your wealth.

Color - Black, Fasting Day - Saturday, Deity - Shanideva, Beej mantra - Om Pram Preem Praum Sah Shanishcharaya Namah.

You may begin the fast on the first Saturday of the bright lunar month. The Shani fast should be done for 11 or 51 consecutive Saturdays.

Wake up at sunrise and get done with your cleansing rituals. If possible, wear blue or black clothes throughout the day.

Install a picture or an iron idol of Shanideva in your home shrine. Meditate on Lord Shanideva and offer him black sesame seeds, sesame or mustard oil, black urad dal, black flowers of Kagmachi, and black clothes. You may also offer garland and fruits to Lord Shani.

During the fast, you may consult a brahman if you wish to conduct Shanigraha puja on the day of your fast. Before you begin your puja and fasting, offer Panchamrit and mustard oil to the deity. Light an oil lamp and burn the incense.

After you offer the above-mentioned things, in the seated position, chant the ten lords of Lord Shani and perform the aarti.

If possible, then read the Shanivaar Vrat katha after chanting the ten names of lord Shani. If possible, visit the Shani temple in the morning and evening, and meditate in the temple premises on the form and names of Lord Shani. On the day of your fast, also offer water at the roots of the Peepal tree.

What to eat - You may eat one meal during the fast (preferably without salt). It is best if you eat a meal consisting of black urad dal, black sesame seeds, and oil. It is essential that you feed the beggars first (especially if the meal consists of black urad dal) before you begin eating. Eat your meal at least two hours after sunset.

Things to donate - Black urad dal, black sesame seeds, black umbrella, rice, fruits, salt, iron, oil, shoes, perfume, money, blankets, and a horse.

The Sun is at the heart of the solar system. Needless to say, this luminary represents authority and the ultimate power. In the vedic astrology, if the Moon is the ‘manas’, then the Sun personifies the ‘Atman’ - the center of all existence.

A benefic Sun gives you the power of multiple achievements, discipline, and great personal health. On the other hand, malefic solar energies could confuse you, induce heavy lethargy, and crash your confidence.

Color - Red, Fasting day - Sunday, Deity - Suryanarayana, Prime mantra - Om Hram Hreem Hraum Sah Suryaya Namah

You may begin fasting from the first Sunday of the shukla paksha (preferably in the month of Ashwin- Sept-Oct). The fast can be continued for 12 or 30 consecutive Sundays.

Wake up at sunrise and finish your daily cleansing rituals. After your cleansing rituals, wear yellow (if possible for the whole day).

Install a picture of Lord Surya in your home shrine and offer him red flowers (like red lotus), sandalwood paste, wheat grains, cooked rice, and prepared dishes.

Worship Surya Deva by offering him water in a copper pot. Add turmeric, vermilion ,and jaggery to the water and then offer it to Lord Surya.

While offering the water to Lord Surya, you may either chant Gayatri mantra or the twelve names of Surya.

If possible, visit the Surya temple and meditate in the premises over the form and twelve names of Surya. Light a ghee lamp and burn the incense before the picture of Surya Dev that you’ve installed in your home shrine.

What to eat - You may eat one meal during your fasting period (preferably without salt, oil, and fried items). It is essential that you eat before sunset after offering the prasad to Lord Surya early in the morning.

Fasting on Sundays will give you greater benefits if you eat the meal prepared from ghee, wheat and jaggery.

Things to donate - Red flowers, red clothes, wheat, jaggery, bel fruit, and copper.