Jain Festivals and Events Celebrated

in India

Paryushana is the most important annual holy event for

Jains Festivals and is usually celebrated in August or

September in Hindi calendar Bhadrapad Month's Shukla

Paksha.

Jains Festival increase their level of spiritual intensity

often using fasting and prayer/meditation to help.

The five main vows are emphasized during this time.

There are no set rules, and followers are encouraged

to practice according to their ability and desires.

Normally, Digambara refer it as Das Lakshana

Dharma while Śvētāmbaras refer to it as

Paryushana ("abiding" or "coming together").

The duration of Paryushana is for 8 days for

Śvētāmbaras Jains and 10 days for Jains

belonging to the Digambara sect. The festival

ends with the celebration of Samvatsari or

Kshamavani (forgiveness day)

Paryushan is the most important Jain religious

observance of the year.

For both Shvetambars, who observe the festival

over a period of eight days, and Digambars, for

whom Paryushan Parva lasts 10 days, this is a

time of intensive study, reflection and purification.

It takes place in the middle of the rainy season, a

time when Jain monks and nuns cease travelling

and stay with a community and are available to

them for instruction and guidance.

Paryushan means, literally, "abiding" or "coming

together". It is also a time when the laity take on

vows of study and fasting with a spiritual intensity

similar to temporary monasticism. Paryushan

concludes with a time of confession and

forgiveness for the transgressions of the previous year.

The most important part of Paryushan is daily

meditation and prayer, which provides an

opportunity for looking within and towards the

teachings of the Tirthankaras for guidance.

Beginning on the fourth day of Paryushan, it is

customary for Murtipujak Shvetambars to read

from the Kalpa Sutra, a scripture which recounts

the life of Mahavira the 14 dreams of his mother

before his birth, followed by the story of his birth,

life and liberation.

It also recounts the lives of other Tirthankaras

and the rules of Paryushan.

The book of scripture would be carried ceremonially

through the streets, water sprinkled in its path

along the way, purifying the entire town. Jains often

take time off from work during this period and eat

a much simpler diet in addition to their normal

vegetarian diet. They avoid potatoes, onions and

garlic the eating of which entails killing the

entire plant.

For Shvetambars, the final day of Paryushan

is Samvastsari Pratikraman, the annual confession.

One cannot consume any fruits or even a grain in our upvaas, informs Nun Mallipragya. But how does one live without food?

Elaborates Poonam Choraria, who has fasted

for 31 days at a stretch: "We live in a sea

of energy. Our bodies gain energy indirectly

from the food we eat, while we gain direct

energy from the cosmic energy that flows

into us through the medulla oblongata at

the bottom of the brain. But this kind of

acceptance of energy depends upon our

mental set-up.

The greater the will, the greater would be

the flow of energy."

Penance is given high importance to purify

one's soul. In the time cycle, Lord Rishabh Dev

started the penance for one year at a stretch.

The same tradition is followed even today.

During the process of penance, all the

accumulated toxins in the cells of the body

over a period of time start to melt away.

Since the body's energies are concentrated

in cleaning and detoxification during the

fasting process, rest becomes a necessary

adjunct.

The body parts are recharged and relaxed.

This minimizes physical ailments, increases

strength and keeps body, mind and the

hormonal balance in check.

The culmination of confession is receiving

forgiveness from all living beings and also

granting forgiveness to all. This ritual of forgiveness

is sometimes called the rite of "universal friendship".

The spirit of the day is contained in this verse:

"I grant forgiveness to all living beings, May all

living beings grant me forgiveness;

My friendship is with all living beings.

My enmity is totally non-existent.

Let there be peace, harmony and

prosperity for all".

Paryushan Parva is the king of all festivals

for the whole Jain community living across

the globe.

Thus, it is also known as Parva Dhiraj.

Every Jain tries to follow the basic principles

of Jainism during this festival, which are:

· Right knowledge

· Right faith

· Right conduct

These are the three most essentials for attaining

liberation and Nirvana. We can easily understand

the word Paryushan by breaking it into two parts:

Pari means to recollect yourself and Vasan means

at a place; Overall it means to know yourself or

recollect yourself at a place in your spirit.

WHAT IS PARYUSHAN?

Paryushan is the time for making up

and cleaning the dirt, which is in the

form of karma collected on our soul.

The festival stands for the celebration

of spiritual awareness and is one of

the most important annual festivals

of Jain religion.

The festival lasts eight days.

Every year this festival of Paryushan

starts on Shravan Vad 12th or 13th

and ends on Bhadarva sud 4th or

5th (late August – September).

WHY IS PARYUSHAN CELEBRATED?

This festival gives everyone a chance for self-analysis

and deep introspection. It also reminds us that life’s

eventual and main aim is not the pursuit of materialism

but to attain the state of Nirvana. Paryushan stands

for some of the most important practices like:

• Nonviolence (Ahimsa)

• Engaging in self-discipline (Sanyam)

• Partial or complete fasting Penance (Tapah)

• Study of Scriptures (Swadhyaya)

• Introspection (Pratikraman)

• Repentance (Prayaschitta)

•

HOW IS PARYUSHAN CELEBRATED?

During Paryushan, Jains study religious books and

scriptures which are based on principles of Jainism.

Pratikraman is also performed by many Jains

during the festival.

The word Pratikraman is made from the combination

of two words, Pra meaning return and atikraman

meaning violation. Literally, it means returning

from the violations.

During the Paryushan days, below mentioned are

the five essential things Jains try and observe:-

JAIN FESTIVAL SAMVATSARI

This article is about a Jain festival.

For the process by which a victim undergoes

a change in feelings and lets go of eventfulness

and seek forgiveness.

"Forgiveness Day" is a day of forgiving and

seeking forgiveness for the followers of Jainism.

Shwetambaras celebrate it on Samvatsari,

the last day of the Paryushana.

"MicchamiDukkadam" is the common phrase when

asking for forgiveness.

It is a Prakit phrase meaning "May all the evil that

has been done be fruitless".

On this sacred day, every member of the Jain

community approaches everyone, irrespective

of religion, and begs for forgiveness for all their

faults or mistakes, committed either knowingly

or unknowingly.

Thus relieved of the heavy burden hanging over

their head of the sins of yesteryear, they start life

afresh, living in peaceful co-existence with others.

Indeed, this day is not merely a traditional ritual,

but a first step on their path to moksha (liberation)

or salvation, the final goal of every man's life,

according to the teachings of Jainism.

Mahavira said we should forgive our own soul first.

To forgive others is a practical application of this

supreme forgiveness.

It is the path of spiritual purification. Mahavira

said: "The one whom you hurt or kill is you.

All souls are equal and similar and have the

same nature and qualities".

Ahimsa Paramo Dharma.

Anger begets more anger and forgiveness

and love beget more forgiveness and love.

Forgiveness benefits both the

forgiver and the forgiven.

Forgiveness is the other name of non-violence

(Ahimsa) which shows the right path of

'Live and Let Live' to one and all.

Forgiveness teaches us Ahimsa (non-violence)

and through Ahimsa. we should learn to practice

forbearance.

Kshamavani Parva celebrates forgiveness as a

way to a life of love, friendship,peace and harmony.

When you forgive, you stop feeling resentful;

there is no more indignation or anger against

another for a perceived offence,difference or

mistake; there is no clamor for punishment.

It means the end of violence (Himsa).

In Jainism, forgiveness is one of the main

virtues that needs to be cultivated by the Jains.

Kṣamāpanā or supreme forgiveness forms part

of one of the ten characteristics of Dharma.

In the Jain prayer, (pratikramana) Jains

repeatedly seek forgiveness from various

creatures—even from Ekindriyas or single sensed

beings like plants and microorganisms that they

may have harmed while eating and doing routine

activities Forgiveness is asked by uttering the phrase,

Micchāmidukkaḍaṃ.

Micchāmidukkaḍaṃ is a Prakrit language phrase

literally meaning "may all the evil that has been

done be fruitless.

"During samvatsari—the last day of Jain festival

paryusana—Jains utter the phrase

MicchamiDukkadam after pratikraman.

As a matter of ritual, they personally greet

their friends and relatives micchāmidukkaḍaṃ

seeking their forgiveness.

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