Sravana vratham

For as long as I can remember, amma has been observing sravana vratham.It is once in 27days on the day of 'thiruonam' nakshathram. It is special day for observing salt less diet and it will please the Lord oppiliappan , as the temple makes saltless prasad to the deity.

When we were kids, our uncle used to say, today opiliappan is pleased, whenver there is less salt in any dish. He would not want to add salt, but take it as the Lord's prasad.

I have not observed this vratham except on one or two occasions. Today while tearing the day's calender,I saw it was tiruvonam nakshathram today,so I made up my mind to observe salt less diet today and for 11 more sravanams. In addition I also wanted to recite 108 hanuman chalisa slokas on that day.

I fast forwarded my yoga routines and was ready for the  sloka recitation by 8.15 in the morning. I sat cross legged on the floor  for for the first one hour and then I walked in the puja room for the next one hour.Then I again sat down and then walked and was able to complete the recitation in a little over four hours. I felt very good but quite exhausted. Had a meal of plain curd rice and some bananas. By evening I was feeling quite light headed, so tucked into a full bowl of green grapes.It is quite a challenge to be without taking salt for an entire day. I had a  katori of yam vegetable that the cook had made without salt. It tasted very good. Night dinner was pongal without salt and some curd rice.

So I have made it. Four hours of sloka recitation and saltless diet.  Now I am feeling good. It is doable but quite challenging.