SadacharaVinoda

by Dr.Vyasanakere Prabhannjanacharya

English translation by harshala rajesh

Preface

Shastras have proclaimed that right conduct (sadAcAra) is the tool for healthy body and sound mind. Purity of mind and thoughts is one of the biggest advantage of practicing right conduct.(karmaNa gnAnamAtanOti); good conduct not only helps in acquiring good thoughts but also helps in improving the acquired thoughts.Such virtuous principles is the only tool to help man acheive ultimate prosperity. The greatness of right conduct(sadAcAra) are proved by the words of Shastras such as "AcArahInaM na punaMti vEdAH", AcAraprabhavO dharmaH". Clear picture of right conduct(sadacAra) as explained in Vedas can be found in works 'sadAcArasmruti', 'kRusNAmRutamahArNAva' etal of SrimadAnandathirtabhagavadpada. Such right conduct primarily are 'karmayoga' as explained in gIta.

The gist of Karmayoga of Bhagavadgita is that - Every person should practice the right conduct assigned to him with unselfish motives and with intent to only please the Supreme Lord. Fasting vow is one among such ordained duties.There are different type of fasting vows that needs to be practiced - examples - Vishnupanchaka, Bhishma Panchaka,Ekadashi( including atiriktadwadashi (ekadashi that is carried over on dwadashi titi) and shravana dwadashi), SriKrishnaJayanti, (SriKrishnashtami) etc. Chaturmasya is also one such extraordinary Vow.

Among them fasting vows on Ekadashi and KrishnaJayanti are compulsory for every person.While practicing this brings highest merits, not practicing it would lead to incurring maximum sin as well. Itihaasa-Purana and all other doctrines have praised the greatness of this with all their might. SrimadAnandathirtabhagavadpada has described the greatness of these in various ways; have explained the rules and ways of follwing them. ShriVishnuteertha,Narayanapanditacharya and other philosophers, SriPurnadaradasa,SriVijayadasa and other Haridasas have given enough information about these Vows.