The Confusion Over Rama Navami Day Fasting

BY: PARAM SVARUPA DAS

Apr 02, MUMBAI, INDIA (SUN) — I was wondering what the real fast time is because it seems pretty clear from Prabhupada’s authorised examples, given below, that fasting must be till sunset on Rama Navami. I have also read one must fast till evening on all Visnu-tattva Appearances followed by an Ekadasi feast. This includes Lord Balarama’s Appearance and also Lord Nityananda’s, etc. But this seems not to be followed here at ISKCON Mumbai. Abhisheka happens at 12 in the afternoon on all these days and a feast follows.... Does this mean everyone eventually ends up breaking their fast, and have been doing so for quite a number of years? So if someone has some helpful information please put it up.

“One must perform sacrifices as prescribed in the shastras, and they must give in charity their hard-earned money for Krsna's cause. That is called dana. Yajna, dana, and tapasya. Tapasya. Just like tomorrow is Sri Rama-navami. The tapasya will be that all the devotees will observe fasting from morning till evening. This is called tapasya”.
Pandal Lecture, Bombay, April 7, 1971

Our next ceremony is Lord Ramacandra's Birthday, on the 7th of April. It should be observed in the same way as Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day, namely, fasting up to evening and then accept Prasadam, and all our ceremonies should be performed with continuous Kirtana, of Hare Krishna, Hare Rama. That will make all our functions successful.
Letter to Mukunda, San Francisco, 26 March, 1968

Today is Rama-navami, the appearance day of Lord Ramacandra, and everyone fasted until 4:00 p.m. Prabhupada walked through a nearby forest for his daily exercise. We drove out along Chattikara road a couple of miles and when he saw the wooded area he decided to get out.
A Transcendental Diary Vol 1 - Hari Sauri dasa (New-2003)
Chapter Eleven, Sri Vrndavana Dhama

Tamala Krsna: So there will be an initiation on Rama-navami.
Prabhupada: Rama-navami is upavasa up till the... Go to observe fasting up to the evening.
Tamala Krsna: So moon.
Prabhupada: Sunset.
Tamala Krsna: Sunset, moonrise.
Prabhupada: Authorized.
Tamala Krsna: Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Ramacandra, and Nrsimhadeva also? Those three.
Bhakti-caru: Srila Prabhupada, can I prepare this one? (indistinct) No.
Tamala Krsna: Sudama Maharaja's troupe will be performing Ramayana. They are starting to perform tonight the Ramayana. Tonight and continuing or through, as far as I know, till Rama-navami.
Prabhupada: I have taken six capatis.
Tamala Krsna: Six capatis!

Room Conversation, March 26, 1977, Bombay

So far the Advent Day of Lord Rama Candra, it should be celebrated as Lord Caitanya's Birthday was done. Fasting up to evening, and then take prasadam, and chant Hare Krishna whole day, and be engaged in reading and chanting off and on, chant for some time, then read for some time, then again have Kirtana and so on, throughout the day. If you have not got a Ramayana, then you can read Bhagavad-gita or Srimad-Bhagavatam, that is all right.
68-03-28.Letter: Mahapurusa

This is an apparent paradox in the BTG international calendar. Notice the time up to which fasting must be observed, and also notice the year.

August 9-Jhulana-yatra ends. Appearance anniversary of Lord Balarama. Fasting till moonrise, followed by feasting. Also, second month of Caturmasya begins (fasting from yogurt).
Back to Godhead Magazine #22-08, 1987

AUGUST 18-Appearance of Lord Balarama. Fasting till noon.
Back to Godhead Magazine #31-01, 1997

This is not a typo error, as after 1996 mostly BTG has shown fasting till noon.

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