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Festivals

Exotic celebration of Rath and Kshama vani parv

The days during Paryushan have been at their best when people tried to restraint their desires and try to bond up with their ‘aatma’. The parv ended with a message to continue one’s expedition for finding permanent happiness and to swim through the river of ‘karmas’ to reach the island of eternity.

The day following paryushan, that is 13th of September on Ashwini Krishna Ekam, was a day of jubilation. Idols of god from every temple were taken in a ‘Ratha’ or ‘Palki’ for a round in the city with huge pomp and show. Men and women, children and aged move in the ‘Ratha Yatra’ dancing, playing traditional dance forms of ‘Garba’ and ‘Ghoomar’. Everyone was drenched in the euphoria of coming a step closer to their inner self during these 10 days. Here are a few glimpses of it where you can feel the colors of high-spirit and ecstasy aviating in the atmosphere.

At the evening, ‘Pooja’ is conducted in every temple when people pray for peace in the world. Praying is made to bestow god’s grace on everyone so that each one is granted with knowledge and a judgment to distinguish right from wrong.  In the end, people ask forgiveness from each other for their wrong intentions, words or deeds that have harmed anyone or have hurted the feelings and emotions of someone. The air around, along with the hearts, becomes pure with sounds like “Micchami Dukdam” and “Uttam Kshama”. As been said in an ancient saying “The one who forgives is always bigger than the one who asks forgiveness”, everyone exculpate the mistakes of others.

I, on behalf of Udaipur Blog team, bow in front of Udaipies and ask your forgiveness for any wrong action or deeds that have hurted one’s sentiments or personal faith and opinion. We will be trying our best not to repeat them in the coming years. 🙂

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Rath yatra | Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Photos by: Gaurav Bhattacharya

Location: Jain Temple,  Keshav Nagar

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A Life during Paryushan

“Param Puneet Parv ye paawan, Bhavyo ko lagta manbhaawan”

Such a true line. King of all Jain Parvas- Parvadhiraj Paryushan is awaited by every Jain year long. It has been said that to reach the ocean of ‘Moksha’ or Salvation, one has to follow the river of ‘Sanyam’ or self-restraint by walking along the banks made up of 3 precious gems viz right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. Paryushan is the time to explore the way to this river.

Shwetambars who celebrate the festival for 8 days, have ended up with their Paryushan on 1st September, 2011, the last day being celebrated as ‘samvatsari’ or a day when everyone asks for forgiveness for his/her wrong deeds, words, feelings or actions which have hurt others.

The Digambars have started their expedition in search of internal peace from 2nd September , 2011 . This festival is observed and celebrated in Digambars for ten days; hence Paryushan is also called ‘Daslakshan Parv’. In the following ten days, sounds of bhajans and recitation of pujas, reflecting the joys and pleasure of people, is heard all over.

These 10 days are the days to turn your back on the external world as well as to the all relations of this world and move your eyes towards your inner self- ‘your aatma’ the one which is the purest of all, the one which is the sole truth. It is neither black nor white, neither male nor female, neither young nor old. It just has an immense power to find its way out to the eternal world. Today, the 11th of September 2011 is the last day of Paryushan in Digambars this year.

Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Each day of the Paryushan stands for the ten characters that reflect the true conduct of Jain disciples. First day stands for ‘Uttam Kshama’ which asks to forgive others of their wrong deeds. Second day is for ‘Uttam Mardava’ which is the converse of ego and pride. Third day gives the motive of being simple known as ‘Uttam Arjava’. Fourth day- ‘Uttam Socha’- when you limit all your worldly desires. Fifth day- ‘Uttam Satya’ says never tell lie or anything which can hurt someone’s feelings. Sixth day encourages you to win over your five senses or ‘indriya’, the day is of ‘Uttam Sayam’. Seventh day, ‘Uttam Tapa’, is the day to break free your soul from the chains of ‘eight karmas’. Eighth day is ‘Uttam Tyaga’ which shows the importance of charity in every person’s life. Ninth day is ‘Uttam Ankinchanya’ when one limits his belongings or possessions. The last day is of ‘Uttam Bhramacharya’.

Sixth day is also celebrated as ‘Dhoop Dashami’. People go in every Jain temple round the city and put ‘Dhoop’, which are the scented pieces of a dried log of tree, in front of idol of god. The belief behind this is that ‘Dhoop’ represents the ‘karmas’ and, as they have burnt the Dhoop, one day they will be able to burn all their karmas and liberate their soul.

One can easily sense the exaggerated peace and contentment on each face during these days. Everyone floats in the ocean of spirituality enjoying the confrontation to their inner self. It seems like everyone is adamant to break the vicious circle of birth and death and reach their real home, their final destination ‘Mokshapuri’.

Every Jain Temple is flooded with the people of all age group during these ten days. Every morning starts with the ‘Abhishek’ of idols of god. Then follows the recitals of ‘pooja’ where people praise ‘Deva-Shastra-Guru’ and wish to follow the path shown by them. Then Muniraj or religious guru addresses the disciples to guide them in the path to discover those three precious gems.

Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Paryushan | UdaipurBlog.com

Paryushan is not a festival to rejoice and celebrate but it is a ‘parva’ to discipline yourself. Jains live with perfect simplicity and put a check on everything ranging from food to clothes and thoughts to deeds. People don’t eat underground beets and roots. Meals are not taken after sunset. People also observe fasts (eating once in a day) and ‘Upwasa’ (neither food nor water) either for one, two, three, five or ten days.

But now-a-days paryushan is losing its sanctity and purity. The young generations do not understand the rationale behind observing paryushan. They only take it as a burden when they have to follow many regulations. And for them I can only say that if they can’t discipline themselves, when they can’t limit their desires, then they are not brave enough to be the descendents of that Mahavira who have won his five senses. But why to blame them? The real culprit hiding behind the scene is growing “nuclear family system”. I am always indebted to my grandparents who have put these seeds in me at an early age and so today I have full faith in my religion and the preaching of my Gods. At last, I would like to wish everyone with the greetings of the Paryushan Parv. Be a true self 🙂

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Festivals

All you need to know about Paryushan

Money does not pay nor name; fame does not pay nor learning. It is love that pays; it is character that cleaves through the adamantine walls of difficulties! Non-violence is the supreme religion (Ahimsa parmo dharma) and Jainism is one of the oldest religions of India.

Paryushan Parva is the king of all festivals and hence is known as Parvadhiraj – well recognized festival of jain community when every jain follows the basic principles of Jainism that is Right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct, all the three are most essentials for attaining liberation, the 8 days festival ends with a samvatsari day, followed by sampana day or the kshamayachna divas. We understand the word by breaking it in two, pari means to recollect yourself and vasan means at a place that means to know yourself recollect your own self at a place in your spirit.

Due to our daily routine we spend almost out of ourselves basically due to eating out, going to places, working day in and out etc but these are the days to introspect in our own selves. Our nature is full of “me” and “mine” but during these days the holiness fills us with the feeling of us-the transformation needed in today’s world. The Jains treat it as a festival of tyag and tapasya.

Traditionally, the Samvatsari is celebrated on the Bhadrapad Shukla Chaturthi or Panchmi. Paryushana is the most prominent festival (lasting eight days for Svetambara Jains and ten days for Digambars) during the monsoons. The monsoon is considered the best time for fasting due to lenient weather. However, a Jain may fast at any time, especially if he/she feels some mistake (negative karma generally known as paap or ‘papa’) has been committed. Variations in fasts encourage Jains to do whatever they can to have self-control. Fasting is one of the main tools for practicing external austerity. It helps to keep the demands of the body under check and assists in the focus on the upliftment of the soul.

Depending on the capacity of an individual, there are several types of fasting:

  • Complete fasting: giving up food and/or water completely for a period.
  • Partial fasting: eating less than you need to avoid hunger.
  • Vruti Sankshepa: limiting the number of items of food eaten.
  • Rasa Parityaga: giving up favorite foods

 

During fasting one immerses oneself in religious activities such as worshiping, serving the saints (monks and nuns & to be in their proximity), reading scriptures, meditating, and donating to the right recipients. However, before starting the fast Jains take a small vow known as pachkaan.

Lord Mahaveera started a yearly festive of samvatsari for the inner spiritual development and a check on it. On this day through various ways described in the religion people try to remit the mistakes committed throughout the year by recalling them asking sorry for them, feeling guilty for the mistakes committed, and through Dhyan (meditation), Swadhaya (self evaluation) and Tapasya(paining oneself to acquit from the various mistakes). On this day people chant

hyms devoting them to the Tirthankar’s, visit their Guru and listen to their preaching and vow not to repeat the mistakes and hurt any living form knowingly and unknowingly. Many jainis depending on their health fast all day long, go for samayik and recite the Namokar mantras.

Khamatkhamana is a important part of this day. It includes asking sorry from every one and forgiving them as well for hurting them knowingly or unknowingly. The process continues the next day where people visit there friends and relatives and all the known and ask forgiveness.

This day marks the end of ego and spread of love and humanity.

“Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.”

Article By: Himani Sethiya

Edited by: Chani Soni

Categories
Festivals

Happy Samvatsari – End of Paryushan for Shvetambar Jains – Micchami Dukkadam

Samvatsari - Paryushan

There are many Festivals celebrated in the Month of  in the auspicious month ‘Bhadrapad’ (Mid of August to Mid of September). And One of the Most Prominent and Famous Festival of Jains of ‘Paryushan Parva‘ is also celebrated in this Auspicious Month. Paryushan means Lasting a long time or Coming together. It is the Time when Wandering Jain Monks take up temporary shelter for four months of Monsoon. (Chaturmas)

The resemblance of Paryushan Parva is The festival through which an attempt is made to put an end to all vices, passions and lustful desires in thought, speech and deeds.

During Paryushan, True Jains follow the following restrictions on diet.

1. Drink boiled water.
2. Eat before sunset.
3. Refrain from root vegetables like Onion, Garlic, and Potatoes.
4. Abstain the intake of fermented (soured) food.
5. Don’t take even the green vegetables.

All the above mentioned items are supposed to contain far more amount of lives (atmas) than the simple grains. Thus, by restricting oneself from intake of these items, a Human Being commits less sin and reaches closer to salvation, the sole purpose of Paryushan. 🙂

In the Shvetambar Sect it is an 8-day festival is celebrated which ends with Bhadrapada Shukla chaturthi. During these 8 days their is recitation of ‘Navkaar Mantra’ for all 24Hours. The last day of this festival is called Samvatsari, short for Samvatsari Pratikramana(Samayi).

After the Pratikramana all the Jain Seek forgiveness from all the creatures of the world whom they may have harmed knowingly or unknowingly and By Bidding each other Micchami Dukkadam.

It is a Jolly Time and People Visit their Relatives and Friends Bid Micchami Dukkadam and Have Exchange of Sweets (Most preferred Part of Each Indian Festival) 🙂

UdaipurBlog Team Wishes You all a Happy Samvatsari and Micchami Dukkadam if we Knowingly of Unknowingly Said or Did Something Wrong. Have A Great Sunday. 😀

Thanks Shanta Devi Chohan for Details about the Day 🙂 and Greetings From Sarva Dharma Maitri Sangh

Micchami Dukkadam