Levels of fasting:
Devotees can choose whichever level of fasting as is convenient to them. It should not disturb their normal devotional service(s) and daily sadhana.
Level 1:
One can consume products of the cow (pancha-gavya) each
for each day:
First day: Cow dung (Gomaya)
Second day: Cow urine (Go-muutra)
Third day: Cow milk (Kshiira)
Fourth day: Cow yoghurt (Dadhi)
Fifth day: All products of the ccow mixed
(Pancha-gavya)
Level 2 (this is what Jayapataka
Swami followed for the last two years):
If one can't follow level 1, one can take fruits and
roots
Level 3:
If one can't follow level 2, one can take "Havishya."
References: Padma Puraana, Brahma-khanda, Chapter 23; Skanda Puraana, Vishnu Khanda, Kaartika Maahaatmya section, Chapter 32; Garuda Puraana, Puurva Khanda, Chapter 123.
Ingredients for Havishya as mentioned in Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa
(13.10-13)
The following are ingredients that can be used in making
Havishya, which is like a khichari made with these items.
* Aatap rice
* Ghee from cow
* 'Saindhava' salt (salt from ocean - Sea Salt)
* Milk from cow
* Milk with cream
* Ripe banana
* Kaala-shaaka
* Wheat
* Fruits (Skanda Puraana, Naagara Khanda says they must
be with a small seed or with few seeds only)
* Mango
* Jackfruit
* Labali fruit
* Roots except 'keaa' (a type of grass or root)
* Pippalii
* Haritakii
* Naagaranga
* Ikshu-dravya or sugarcane derivatives (other than gur
or mollasses)
* No oil
The following ingredients are normally part of Havishya but have to be avoided in the month of Kaartika:
* Mung dal
* Til oil
* Beta-shaaka
* Shashtikaa-shaaka
* Radish
* Jeeraa
* Tamarind
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Devotees may offer the following to the Deity form of the Lord:
On the first day, one must offer padma (lotus) flowers
to the feet of the Lord
On the second day, one must offer bilva (wood-apple)
leaves of the thigh of the Lord
On the third day, one must offer gandha (scents) to the
navel of the Lord
On the fourth day, one must offer java flower to the
shoulders of the Lord
On the fifth day, one must offer malati flower to the
head (siro-desa) of the Lord
Reference: Garuda Puraana (op cit.)