time the gods were really alarmed, and awarded him the title of Mighty Saint. But Vishvamitra said he would be satisfied with one title alone—the name of Brahmin.
Again he went to work. He stood on one foot for a thousand years, at the same time holding his arms high over his head. He never moved. In the hottest summer he underwent the ordeal of the five fires. He refused protection during the rains. He ate only air. Such devotion caused the gods to tremble and after a hurried conference they dispatched a second nymph from heaven to display her charms. But this time Vishvamitra saw through the ruse, and in a fit of anger turned the hapless nymph into stone. By becoming angry, however, he lost merit, and so began the task of overcoming anger.
For a thousand years he did not speak, and then, his vow of silence having been completed, sat down to eat some boiled rice. The gods were still active. They sent a Brahmin beggar to request the rice. Without hesitation Vishvamitra complied, and for another thousand years observed the vow which he had hoped to break with that meal of rice. For a thousand years he neither breathed, ate nor spoke.
The gods then knew that they were defeated. Only quick action could save the three worlds from destruction. Vishvamitra’s request was granted. He was raised to the rank of Brahmin, and continued to live happily through many generations.[1]
Contrast this story with the general pattern of Mr. Gandhi’s fasts. The 21-day fast in 1924 can be taken as illustrative. Gandhiji had been released from jail , after an imprisonment of two years, and was just recovering from an operation for appendicitis. Hindu-Muslim relationships, which had been steadily deteriorating, broke down completely in many parts of India, with exceptionally serious riots at Kohat, resulting in the exodus of the entire Hindu population. It was obvious that more than ordinary steps must be taken to restore confidence.
Mr. Gandhi spent days and nights in prayer seeking divine guidance, and on September 18 announced that he would undertake a fast of three weeks as an act of penitence because of
- ↑ Summarized from Macfie, J. M., Myths and Legends of India, T. and T. Clark, Edinburgh, pp. 15-20.
