What “Upvas” actually means

‘Upvas’ is commonly explained as two Sanskrit roots joined together: ‘upa’, meaning ‘near’, and ‘vas’, meaning ‘to stay’ or ‘dwell’. “Upvas”, then, is staying near the divine. Going without food was one way of creating that closeness, because giving something up sharpens attention.

The empty stomach was a tool. The attention was the purpose. Once you see it that way, a pregnant or breastfeeding woman has many ways to keep “Upvas” that do not depend on eating less.

What Charaka Samhita says

Charaka Samhita is one of the foundational texts of Ayurveda. In its Sharira Sthana, the section on the human body and embryology, there is a chapter called Jatisutriya Sharira. It describes pregnancy complications and their causes.

Verse 8.26 describes a condition called “Nagodara”, where the baby dries up in the womb and does not grow. Among the causes it lists is a pregnant woman who resorts to fasting and religious observances, along with poor nourishment and aggravated Vata. Vata is the Ayurvedic principle of movement and dryness. When it rises, the body tends to feel depleted and dry.

In the same chapter, verse 8.21 lists eating very little among the habits that can harm the baby in the womb.

So this isn’t a modern worry imposed on an old tradition. The classical text itself names frequent fasting during pregnancy as a risk to the baby’s growth. Alongside this, Ayurveda describes Masanumasika Garbhini Paricharya, a month-by-month pregnancy care plan built around steady, suitable nourishment.

A note on how to read this: Classical texts describe risk patterns in their own terms. They are not a diagnosis, and they do not replace your own obstetrician’s advice. They do show clearly which way the tradition leans on this question.

What modern guidance says

A pregnant woman supplies energy to a growing baby around the clock, and a breastfeeding mother supplies it for milk. Going long hours without food, and especially without water, can lead to dehydration and low blood sugar in the mother, and breastfeeding can lower milk supply.

Much of the research on the benefits of fasting has been done in healthy adults who are not pregnant or breastfeeding. For that reason, strict fasting is generally not advised in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Please take your own doctor’s view on this, since it depends on your health, your trimester and your baby.

On this question, the old text and current medical practice point in the same direction.

An easy way to remember it

Think of a clay diya on a Navaratri evening. The flame burns steadiest and brightest when there is plenty of oil beneath it. You would not let the oil run low on the one night you want the flame at its best.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding are like that. The body is doing its biggest work, building a baby or making milk. That’s when you keep the oil full.

Who should and should not fast?

• Pregnant women, any trimester: A strict fast is generally not advised. If you still wish to observe one, speak to your obstetrician or Ayurvedic doctor first.
• Breastfeeding mothers: The same caution applies, especially in the early months while your milk supply is settling and your needs for fluid and energy are higher.
• Women planning a baby: This is more individual. Your body’s stores of iron and other nutrients matter before pregnancy begins, so avoid long or repeated fasts, and check with your doctor if you have a condition such as anaemia, PCOS or diabetes.
• If you’re otherwise healthy: Navratri fasting is a personal and spiritual choice. Keep it sensible, and stop if you feel unwell.

How to keep Upvas without the fast

• Keep the food simple. A satvik Navaratri plate of fruit, milk, curd, sabudana, singhara or kuttu flour and rock salt is light and easy to eat in small portions through the day.
• Keep fluids steady. Water, coconut water, buttermilk and lemon water throughout the day matter as much as food.
• Fast from something other than food. Give up sugar for a day, fried food, or the phone after dinner, instead of skipping meals.
• Make the day quiet. Ten minutes with a diya, a mantra or your own breath is dwelling near the divine, which is what Upvas was about from the start.
• Keep your supplements and appointments. Your iron, calcium, folic acid, and doctor’s advice don’t pause for Navaratri.

If you still choose to fast

Some women feel strongly about fasting. If that is you, keep it gentle and tell your doctor. Eat small meals every few hours, drink water throughout the day, and keep taking your supplements.

Stop and seek medical advice if you feel dizzy or faint, notice dark urine, feel your baby moving less than usual, or see fewer wet nappies in your breastfed baby.

The one thing to take home

Upvas was never about the empty stomach. It was about staying near the divine. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, you can keep that closeness and fast your attention instead of your body.