History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v5.c71.s1.191

v5.c71.s1.191

*Upavāsa* (fasting). Fasting strictly means total abstinence from food and drink, but generally it means light diet restricted in quantity and also as regards the nature of the articles taken. Even the Tai S. (I. 6. 7 3-4) refers¹²⁶ to three ways of observing *vrata* on the days of the *Darśapūrṇamāsa-iṣṭi* either by subsisting only on food available in the village or on forest food or partaking of no food at all. Gaut 19 11 includes upavāsa among the several means of removing sins Tapas is also one of such means acc. to him. But in Gaut. 19 15 as stated above, Gaut includes fasting (*anāśaka*) among 'tapāṃsi'.