The ancient sages attached great importance to the control of the senses and evolved various practices to achieve this. For instance, the tongue should not be allowed to have its way with regard to food. If it is pampered by being given whatever it desires, ultimately it will swallow up the man himself.

To control the palate, the ancient sages prescribed various regulations. Chief among them is the ‘Chaturmasya vrata’ (ritual observance for four months). The purpose of this vrata is to impose severe discipline on the tongue. This vrata is observed each year for four months commencing from the month of Ashadha. There is another reason for this observance. As the next three months are a season of heavy rains, it will be difficult for sannyasins (renunciants) to move from place to place. Hence they are enjoined to stay in one place and devote themselves to meditation for four months. Living in a forest for these four months, they had to live on fruits and roots. Thereby the tongue was brought under control.

At the present time, because of perversions of the Kali Age, this ancient four-month ritual of austerity has become an ostentatious observance. The sannyasins ask for tasty edibles. While staying in a village, they expect each devotee by turns to provide a feast. This is done in the name of ‘bhiksha’ – pious offering by a devotee.

With the change in the character of the religious observance, people’s conduct also changes. The sannyasins of today should realise that the real purpose of these observances is to achieve control over the palate. How can they expect to realise the Divine without achieving mastery of the senses? If your house is on fire, you may try to escape by running out of it. But if your sense organs are on fire, how can you hope to escape from it? Today what is happening in the case of spiritual aspirants is their sense organs are on fire. Today’s sannyasins and sadhakas are allowing their sense organs to burn like a blazing fire. (SSS Vol.22, pp. 144-145