Paryushan Parva is celebrated every year by members of the Jain community for spiritual upliftment and self purification. This festival is the most sacred festival of their entire year. Read on to know more. Jains all across the globe celebrate this festival with great religiousness. It is a very important festival for them. They gear up for 8 or 10 days of fasting and praying. The Shwetambar Jains observe it for a period of 8 days and the Digambar Jains observe it for a period of 10 days. In this article Purpose and Significance of ParyushanWhen is Paryushan Celebrated?Rituals during ParyushanImportant aspects of ParyushanCelebration of Paryushan festivalMicchami Dukkadam Purpose and Significance of ParyushanThe real purpose and true significance of this festival is to repent and seek forgiveness for any kind of sins committed. As they observe the fast, they forget the bodily needs and focus more on enriching the mind and soul. They atone for their sins and take vows to not do any kind of wrong in the future. Fasting helps in purifying the mind and body and the festival provides an opportunity to reflect and introspect. Jains believe that Ratna – Tray, or the three jewels of Jainism, namely right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct are very important facets of their religion. In order to achieve these, they are encouraged to be non-violent, truthful, non-stealing, celibate and renounce all attachments. While most Jains find it difficult to follow these tenets all year round, they try to follow as many of these directives they can during Paryushan.When is Paryushan Celebrated?Paryushan festival takes place in rainy season when it is difficult for Jain nuns and monks to step outside barefoot. Chaturmas is a holy period of four months during the rainy season. Wandering monks take up temporary residence at one place for these four months and Paryushan is the most important part of Chaturmas. During this period when the monks reside in one place, they are accessible and make themselves available to those people seeking the guidance or instructions set down by the 24 Tirthankars or teachers of Jainism.Rituals during ParyushanFasting is a very important part of Paryushan. Some Jains fast during the entire period of Paryushan and some fast only on the first and last day. On the days of fasting, they eat before sunset and only drink boiled/purified water. They avoid green leafy vegetables. They read holy Jain books and scriptures. They meditate and pray to God. They sing devotional songs and listen to speeches and lectures by the Jain monks. Important aspects of ParyushanFasting might sound difficult and people might wonder how one can manage without food, but for Jains fasting during this period is a spiritual journey which connects oneself to the soul. Fasting during Paryushan is a chance to eliminate bad karma. It helps one develop discipline, self control and patience. Forgiveness and repentance are important aspects of Paryushan. Each day of the Parysuhan festival focuses on eliminating various impurities like anger, pride, deceit and greed and building good virtues.Celebration of Paryushan festivalJains visit the mutts and participate in the festivities with zeal and enthusiasm. They attend religious and spiritual discourses where the greatness and glories of Lord Mahavir and other Tirthankars are narrated. They listen carefully when the spiritual preceptors read out from the Kalpasutra which is the most sacred scripture of the Jains. The teachings of Lord Mahavir and other Tirthankars are explained and the meaning of the scriptures is recited. They are overcome with emotion and devotion as they listen whole-heartedly to the scriptures being read out. They observe strict fasting completely avoiding food, with some of them not drinking water also.Micchami Dukkadam The festival concludes with people greeting each other ‘Micchami Dukkadam’ which means, "may all the evil that has been done be fruitless." On the last day, which is known as Samvatsari, people greet family, friends and all others with this phrase, thus seeking forgiveness for any kind of hurt or harm caused intentionally or unintentionally. By saying this phrase, you are forgiving those who have done wrong to you and those to whom you have done wrong. What do you know about Paryushan, the most sacred festival of the Jains? Have you ever participated in the Paryushan festivities? What are the most important tenets that Jains try to follow during Paryushan? Discuss here.
Paryushan Parva is celebrated every year by members of the Jain community for spiritual upliftment and self purification. This festival is the most sacred festival of their entire year. Read on to know more. Jains all across the globe celebrate this festival with great religiousness. It is a very important festival for them. They gear up for 8 or 10 days of fasting and praying. The Shwetambar Jains observe it for a period of 8 days and the Digambar Jains observe it for a period of 10 days.
The real purpose and true significance of this festival is to repent and seek forgiveness for any kind of sins committed. As they observe the fast, they forget the bodily needs and focus more on enriching the mind and soul. They atone for their sins and take vows to not do any kind of wrong in the future. Fasting helps in purifying the mind and body and the festival provides an opportunity to reflect and introspect. Jains believe that Ratna – Tray, or the three jewels of Jainism, namely right knowledge, right faith, and right conduct are very important facets of their religion. In order to achieve these, they are encouraged to be non-violent, truthful, non-stealing, celibate and renounce all attachments. While most Jains find it difficult to follow these tenets all year round, they try to follow as many of these directives they can during Paryushan.
When is Paryushan Celebrated?
Paryushan festival takes place in rainy season when it is difficult for Jain nuns and monks to step outside barefoot. Chaturmas is a holy period of four months during the rainy season. Wandering monks take up temporary residence at one place for these four months and Paryushan is the most important part of Chaturmas. During this period when the monks reside in one place, they are accessible and make themselves available to those people seeking the guidance or instructions set down by the 24 Tirthankars or teachers of Jainism.
Rituals during Paryushan
Fasting is a very important part of Paryushan. Some Jains fast during the entire period of Paryushan and some fast only on the first and last day. On the days of fasting, they eat before sunset and only drink boiled/purified water. They avoid green leafy vegetables. They read holy Jain books and scriptures. They meditate and pray to God. They sing devotional songs and listen to speeches and lectures by the Jain monks.
Important aspects of Paryushan
Fasting might sound difficult and people might wonder how one can manage without food, but for Jains fasting during this period is a spiritual journey which connects oneself to the soul. Fasting during Paryushan is a chance to eliminate bad karma. It helps one develop discipline, self control and patience. Forgiveness and repentance are important aspects of Paryushan. Each day of the Parysuhan festival focuses on eliminating various impurities like anger, pride, deceit and greed and building good virtues.
Celebration of Paryushan festival
Jains visit the mutts and participate in the festivities with zeal and enthusiasm. They attend religious and spiritual discourses where the greatness and glories of Lord Mahavir and other Tirthankars are narrated. They listen carefully when the spiritual preceptors read out from the Kalpasutra which is the most sacred scripture of the Jains. The teachings of Lord Mahavir and other Tirthankars are explained and the meaning of the scriptures is recited. They are overcome with emotion and devotion as they listen whole-heartedly to the scriptures being read out. They observe strict fasting completely avoiding food, with some of them not drinking water also.
Micchami Dukkadam
The festival concludes with people greeting each other ‘Micchami Dukkadam’ which means, "may all the evil that has been done be fruitless." On the last day, which is known as Samvatsari, people greet family, friends and all others with this phrase, thus seeking forgiveness for any kind of hurt or harm caused intentionally or unintentionally. By saying this phrase, you are forgiving those who have done wrong to you and those to whom you have done wrong.
What do you know about Paryushan, the most sacred festival of the Jains? Have you ever participated in the Paryushan festivities? What are the most important tenets that Jains try to follow during Paryushan? Discuss here.
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