Spiritual Science of Upawas उपवास

Shrikant Soman
May 23
7 min read

Spiritual Science of Upawas उपवास

Upwas: More Than Just Fasting

We often equate Upwas with mere "fasting," but this understanding misses the profound spiritual essence of the practice. The word Upwas itself, from the Sanskrit Up + Was (उप + वस), literally means "to stay near" – specifically, to stay near to one's self.

This isn't necessarily about drawing closer to a particular deity, though that's a common interpretation. In its truest sense, Upwas is a spiritual journey accessible to everyone, including atheists and Buddhists. It's a "holy fasting," if you will, but far richer in meaning than simply abstaining from food. For this reason, throughout this discussion, we'll use the term Upwas.

Beyond Brownie Points and Heaven's Ledger

Let's clear up a common misconception: Upwas isn't a get-rich-quick scheme for your "virtue passbook." The idea that performing Upwas earns you "brownie points" to offset your sins and guarantee a spot in heaven is flawed. If it were that simple, one could live a life of debauchery, then simply "fast" their way into paradise.

The problem? We can't verify this celestial accounting system from the departed, and there's no divinely certified rulebook. We have no clue how many "credit points" an Upwas truly earns, or how many "debit points" a sin incurs. This theory, with its many logical inconsistencies, simply doesn't hold up.

Important Note on Religious Practices There's no inherent need to visit temples, perform elaborate puja, listen to holy music, or chant holy names during Upwas.

Ancient Wisdom vs. Modern Science (and Misguided Fads)

Another popular, yet often misapplied, trend is trying to validate Upwas solely through material science. While there's certainly research on the health benefits of caloric restriction and longevity, it's crucial to understand that our ancient seers weren't designing Upwas based on modern scientific studies. The spiritual depth of Upwas doesn't need external scientific validation to prove its worth. Trying to force every ancient ritual into a modern scientific framework often misses the point entirely.

And then there's the "allowable foods" conundrum. This is a big one! The idea of specific foods being permitted or forbidden during Upwas is a modern invention, not rooted in ancient scriptures. Think about it: peanuts originated in Bolivia, potatoes in Southern Peru, tomatoes in Central and South America, and tea in Southwest China. These foods, now staples on many "Upwas menus," simply weren't known to ancient Indian seers. This highlights a clear disconnect between tradition and present-day practices.

Upwas isn't a get-rich-quick scheme for your "virtue passbook." The idea that performing Upwas earns you "brownie points" to offset your sins and guarantee a spot in heaven is flawed.

The True Purpose of Upwas

So, does all this mean the system of Upwas is a hoax? Absolutely not! The ancient practice of Upwas remains a perfectly valid and incredibly potent path to self-realization. To truly understand and benefit from it, we need to approach it from the perspective of Spiritual Science.

The Three Pillars of Upwas: Food, Lifestyle, and Meditation

To truly embrace the spiritual depth of Upwas, we need to understand its three core components:

Food
Lifestyle
Meditation

Let's delve into each one, starting with how we nourish ourselves.

1. Food: Redefining Our Approach to Eating During Upwas

First things first: set aside any preconceived notions about "Upwas foods" as commonly understood today. We're going to deconstruct those rules and explore the true essence of appropriate nourishment.

Our focus here is on Saatvik (सात्विक) food, a concept that holds significance from both a spiritual and an Ayurvedic (आयुर्वेद) perspective.

**Modern Upwas Thali system is totally totally Un-Upwas**

The Spiritual Dimension of Saatvik Food

Spiritually, Saatvik food is characterized by the dominance of Sattva Guna (सत्व गुण). In the spiritual understanding of our being, we are composed of three fundamental qualities or essences: Sattva, Rajas (राजस), and Tamas (तामस). All three are crucial for our existence in the material world, each possessing unique characteristics. (We'll explore Rajas and Tamas in more detail separately). For our current discussion, we'll concentrate on Sattva Guna.

The spiritual depth of Upwas doesn't need external scientific validation to prove its worth. Trying to force every ancient ritual into a modern scientific framework often misses the point entirely.

Sri Aurobindo beautifully elucidates these three Gunas:

"Each of the three gunas is a reflection or stepped-down version of a power of the higher existence. Tamas (तामस) in the spiritual being becomes a divine calm, which is not an inertia and incapacity of action, but a perfect power, sakti (शक्ती), holding in itself all its capacity and capable of controlling and subjecting to the law of calm even the most stupendous and enormous activity; Rajas (राजस) becomes a self-effecting initiating sheer Will of the spirit, which is not desire, endeavour, striving passion, but the same perfect power of being, sakti (शक्ती), capable of an infinite, imperturbable and blissful action. Sattwa (सत्व) becomes not the modified mental light, prakasa (प्रकाश), but the self-existent light of the divine being, jyotih (ज्योती:), which is the soul of the perfect power of being and illumines in their unity the divine quietude and the divine will of action. The ordinary liberation gets the still divine light in the divine quietude, but the integral perfection will aim at this greater triune unity.”

The Ayurvedic and Practical Aspects of Saatvik Food

The Ayurvedic understanding of Saatvik foods aligns closely with their spiritual implications. According to Ayurveda, Saatvik foods primarily include:

Milk and dairy products like butter
Cereals
Fresh fruits
Vegetables

The key is to consume only vegetarian food that is either non-spicy or very mildly spiced.

Quantity of Food: During Upwas, the quantity of food consumed is also important. Aim for approximately two-thirds of your usual "normal" intake (which will naturally vary from person to person).

Timing of Meals: A crucial aspect is the timing of your last meal. No food should be taken after sunset. Ideally, a light meal, preferably consisting only of fruit and perhaps some milk, should be consumed just before sunset.

The word Upwas itself, from the Sanskrit Up + Was (उप + वस), literally means "to stay near" – specifically, to stay near to one's self.

2. Lifestyle: Cultivating Calm for Upwas

During Upwas, the aim is to create an environment of tranquility. This means avoiding activities that stir up agitation or mental turbulence.

Mind your activities: Refrain from hectic or strenuous physical activity. Steer clear of debates and heated arguments. The goal is to maintain a peaceful and calm demeanor throughout the day.
Embrace the rhythm of the day: Waking up just before sunrise is recommended, aligning yourself with the natural cycle. Similarly, a morning and evening bath contribute to a sense of purity and calmness. Aim for an early bedtime, ensuring around 7 hours of sound and peaceful sleep.
Disconnect to connect: Crucially, dedicate this day to disconnecting from external distractions. This means a strict "no" to electronic media consumption and engagement with social media. While these guidelines seem simple, their true implementation in our modern, fast-paced lives can be surprisingly challenging. As they say, simplicity is often the most difficult thing to achieve.

Important Note on Religious Practices: There's no inherent need to visit temples, perform elaborate puja, listen to holy music, or chant holy names during Upwas. While you can do these if they genuinely contribute to your peaceful zone, it's often better to avoid them. The reason for this will become clearer when we discuss meditation.

3. Meditation: The Heart of Upwas

The conscious choices we make regarding our food and lifestyle during Upwas (points one and two) serve a singular, vital purpose: to prepare fertile ground for high-quality meditation.

The link between food and inner calm: Reducing food intake liberates our digestive system from strenuous work. Our "normal" food consumption is often far more than what our physical body truly requires, so consuming less doesn't mean a nutritional deficit. Furthermore, Saatvik food actively supports the process of quieting the incessant thought currents in our mind – an absolute prerequisite for meditation.
Lifestyle's role in inner stillness: A relaxed lifestyle on an Upwas day also directly aids this quieting process. This is why I suggested avoiding activities like chanting; the objective is to move beyond the usual mental chatter, whether it's perceived as "good" or "bad" thoughts. We aim to reach the Source, which transcends these dualities.
Demystifying meditation: Meditation is a vastly misunderstood concept, often conflated with piety, holiness, or religious devotion. However, meditation goes far beyond these notions. This is precisely why a belief in God isn't a critical requirement for observing Upwas.

You can observe Upwas on any convenient day. For many, Sunday proves most suitable due to it being a holiday.

What is Meditation in the Context of Upwas?

Meditation, in this context, means turning our gaze inwards. In our waking hours, our awareness is almost constantly directed outwards. During meditation, we deliberately shift our awareness internally. The practice involves observing the various "clouds" of our thoughts in a neutral, non-judgmental way, without getting drawn into them or participating in their narratives.

Breathing as an anchor: Regulating our breathing is a key element. It should be regularized, deep, and slow. There's no need for complex scientific Pranayam techniques. Simple, regularized, intentional, and observed deep breathing is perfectly sufficient.

When to Observe Upwas?

Does Upwas have to be performed on specific holy days? Not at all! You can observe Upwas on any convenient day. For many, Sunday proves most suitable due to it being a holiday.

The understanding of Upwas presented here is rooted in Spiritual Science, as originally intended and practiced by our ancient seers. It possesses a profound spiritually scientific basis and should not be confused with mere religious notions. The true objective of Upwas is not to accumulate "holy credit points" for Moksha or a ticket to heaven after death. Instead, its profound purpose is to foster a balanced and peaceful life, full of abundance, right HERE AND NOW on Earth.

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