In 2006, Swamishri was in New Delhi when the sadhus started preparing for a lunar eclipse. The moon was entering the penumbra right after lunch and so the sadhus were not going to have dinner in the evening. The elderly are exempt from the dietary restrictions and are allowed to eat until the eclipse begins, yet Swamishri refused to have his dinner. Ishwarcharan Swami and Viveksagar Swami tried to reason with Swamishri, “According to the scriptures, there is nothing wrong with having dinner. You are allowed to eat.”

“I will be okay. I just ate in the afternoon and I don’t feel hungry. There is no need to eat.” Despite this, the sadhus offered thal to Harikrishna Maharaj at around 6:30 p.m. and then Krishnavallabh Swami brought it into Swamishri’s room. Swamishri was reading a few letters. He said, “There is no need for all this. I am not going to eat anything.”

Krishnavallabh Swami has been one of Swamishri’s personal attendants for over 20 years and has witnessed many such incidents. This time he tried to insist upon Swamishri, “We have offered the thal to Harikrishna Maharaj. It is prasad.”

“If Harikrishna Maharaj has eaten then the spiritual benefit of preparing the meal has been attained.”
“The benefit would be twice as much if you eat as well,” Krishnavallabh Swami added.
“Serving Harikrishna Maharaj includes everything.”

“By the time you sit down for breakfast tomorrow morning it will be really late. Why don’t you have just a little…”
“I am not going to starve if I skip one meal.”
Krishnavallabh Swami’s efforts yielded no results. Everyone gave way to Swamishri’s conviction. For Swamishri this isn’t just tapa, but it is following the agna of God and guru. Swamishri is willing to endure any amount of hardship so that he can follow their agna.