So, when we arrived in Aden, on the first day, Yogiji Maharaj observed a fast. In those days, Yogiji Maharaj observed a fast when he travelled, despite all appropriate arrangements being made to ensure that the sadhus’ vows were not infringed. We had left by plane from Nairobi at night and arrived in the morning in Aden. And he would engage in discourses, bhajan, devotion, seva, padhramanis and everything else. Today will be really enjoyable.” Throughout the day, his face never even slightly reflected that he was fasting. He was always joyous and would happily declare, “Today is a fast. And he had such eagerness for fasting that one never saw any frustration on his face or physical fatigue or lethargy. Throughout his life – for over 40 years – he himself observed a fast every third day that is, 9 or 10 per month. So, he was really pleased when so many observed a fast. Over 1,000 youths, and men and women devotees observed a fast. He instructed the youths to make a list of the youths and devotees who would observe a nirjala fast on that day. Many devotees from throughout East Africa had come there. In 1970, Yogiji Maharaj was in Mombasa for the Ram Navmi celebration. He was only interested that everyone observed a fast on ekadashi. In fact, he had no interest at all in the birthday celebrations.

As everybody has observed a nirjala, I feel great peace.”

Yogiji Maharaj was delighted and said, “This is our Janma Jayanti. Over 1,000 youths, and men and women devotees willingly volunteered to observe the ekadashi fast. In addition to the youths travelling with Yogiji Maharaj, other youths, and men and women devotees from Nadiad and the Kheda district enlisted. From the first day of the parayan, he initiated a list of names of all who would observe a nirjala fast on the day of ekadashi. But a few days earlier, Yogiji Maharaj was intent that all should observe the ekadashi fast. Yogiji Maharaj’s birthday also fell during this period – on Vaishakh vad 12. In 1968, when Yogiji Maharaj went to Nadiad, after his visit to Kolkata, a parayan sponsored by Ishwarbhai Desai had been arranged.

In his later years, for youths who served while he bathed, Yogiji Maharaj would tell them to observe a fast in return for that special service opportunity. In particular, if youths lapsed in the observance of niyams and dharma, he would direct them to observe a nirjala (waterless) fast as atonement. On many occasions Yogiji Maharaj instructed youths to fast.

Yogiji Maharaj had a special fervour for inspiring youths to observe fasts.

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