Paryushana (or
Paryusan) is one of the two most important festivals for the
JainsJainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness...
, the other being
DiwaliDiwali or ' is a significant festival in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and an official holiday in India and Nepal. Adherents of these religions celebrate Diwali as the Festival of Lights...
. Paryushana is staying of the monks in one place. In popular terminology, this stay is termed
chaturmasaChaturmas is a period of four months beginning on Shayani Ekadashi - the 11th day of the first bright half of Ashadh until Prabodhini Ekadashi - the 11th day of the first bright half of the Kartik...
because the rainy season is regarded to be about four months. However, the minimum duration of Paryushana is regarded to be 70 days. For this minimum duration, Paryushana must be initiated by panchami (fifth day) of the shukla phase of the Bhadrapada month.
Paryushana (or
Paryusan) is one of the two most important festivals for the
JainsJainism is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self-effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness...
, the other being
DiwaliDiwali or ' is a significant festival in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and an official holiday in India and Nepal. Adherents of these religions celebrate Diwali as the Festival of Lights...
. Paryushana is staying of the monks in one place. In popular terminology, this stay is termed
chaturmasaChaturmas is a period of four months beginning on Shayani Ekadashi - the 11th day of the first bright half of Ashadh until Prabodhini Ekadashi - the 11th day of the first bright half of the Kartik...
because the rainy season is regarded to be about four months. However, the minimum duration of Paryushana is regarded to be 70 days. For this minimum duration, Paryushana must be initiated by panchami (fifth day) of the shukla phase of the Bhadrapada month. In the scriptures it is described that Lord Mahavira used to start Paryushana on Bhadrapada
ShuklaShukla is Sanskrit for "white" and is also found as a surname in northern India and many arab countries. The term is used in various contexts in Hindu and Muslim culture:...
panchamiPanchami is the fifth day of the fortnight in Hindu lunar calendar....
.
After Mahavir, nearly 150 years Jain Samvatsari was shifted to Chaturthi (4th day of Bhadrapada of Shukla phase. Since 2200 years Jains follows Chaturthi.
The date for the Paryushana festival is thus Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi for both major sects. Because of computational and other differences, there can be some minor differences among various subsects. Recently there has been an attempt standardize the date.
Because at this time the monks have settled in the town for a longer duration, it is time for the householders to have an annual renewal of the faith by listening to the statement of the Dharma and by meditation and vratas (self-control). In the
DigambarDigambar , has many different meaning and associations throughout Dharmic traditions. Many representations of deities within these traditions are depicted as sky-clad, eg. Samantabhadra/Samantabhadri in yab-yum...
as, it is done by starting a 10-day period from Paryushana (Bhadrapada Shukla panchami) during which the dashalakshana vrata is undertaken. In the Shvetambaras an 8-day festival is celebrated that ends with Bhadrapada Shukla chaturthi. The last day is called Samvatsari, short for Samvatsari Pratikramana, as described below.
During the 8-day festival, the Kalpa Sutra is recited in the Swetmbara sect, that includes a recitation of the section on birth of Lord Mahavira on the fifth day. In the Digambara sect the Tatvartha-sutra of Umaswati is recited. On the dashami, the sugandha-dashami vrata occurs. The Digambaras celebrate Ananta-chaturdashi on the chaturdashi, special worship is done on this day. Many towns have a procession leading to the amin temple.
The original
PrakritPrakrit is the name for a group of Middle Indic, Indo-Aryan languages, derived from Classical Sanskrit and other Old Indic dialects. The word itself has a flexible definition, being defined sometimes as, "original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual", or "vernacular", in contrast to the...
(ardhamagadhi) term for Paryushana is "Pajjo-savana". In case of Jain terms, the Prakrit forms of the words are the original.
Pratikramana (Samayika): Renewal meditation
Pratikramana means turning back. It is a form of meditation, called Samayika where one reflects on his spiritual journey and renews his faith. For both Swetambaras and Digambaras, it takes the form of periodic meditation. The period can be twice daily (morning and evening), once every lunar phase, every four months, or every year. The annual Pratikramana in some form is the minimum for a
SravakaŚrāvaka or Shravaka or Sāvaka means "a hearer" or, more generally, "disciple."This term is used by both Buddhists and Jains. In Jainism, a shravaka is any lay Jain...
.
The annual Pratikramana is Samvatsari Pratikramana, in short
SamvatsariSamvatsari is the last day of Paryusana —the eight or ten day festival of Jains. It is the holiest day of the Jain calendar. Most Jains observe a complete fast on this day. The whole day is spend in prayers and contemplation. A yearly elaborate penitential retreat called samvatsati pratikramana ...
. Since it coincides with Paryushana, the terms "Samvatsari" and "Paryushana" are sometimes used interchangeably.
Pratikramana includes:
- samayika: to stay in equanimity by withdrawing to the self.
- Prayers to the Five Supremes, 24 Jinas and the 4 mangalas, including the Dharma
The term , is an Indian spiritual and religious term, that means one's righteous duty or any virtuous path in the common sense of the term. A Hindu's Dharma is affected by a person's age, class, occupation, and sex. In Indian languages it can be equivalent simply to "religion", depending on context...
as presented by the ancient Masters.
- Prayer to the Master(Guru) or the Deity
A deity is a postulated preternatural or supernatural immortal being, who may be thought of as holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, and respected by believers....
.
- Reflections on vratas and past transgressions.
- Kayotsarga
Kayotsarga is a yogic meditative posture. Most of the Jain Tirthankaras are depicted in the Kayotsarga meditative posture. The word kayotsargga is made up of two words Kaya meaning body and utsarga meaning to give up...
: detachment from the body by controlling it.
- Pratyakhyan: making resolutions for the next period (next year for Samvatsari Pratikramana).
The detailed recommended procedure can be found in the handbooks. Detailed Pratikramana takes about 3 hours, however all essentials can be done in a much shorter time if needed.
Pratikramana is also sometimes termed Samayika in the Digambara tradition.
By tradition certain postures are recommended for Pratikramana.
Dasha-Lakshana Vrata
This is a vrata that celebrates 10 components of the dharma: Noble kshama (forbearance), mardava (gentleness), arjava (uprightness),
shauchaShaucha , purity, is one of the Niyamas of Yoga or Hinduism. It is mentioned in the Mahabharata and Patanjali's text....
(purity),
satyaSatya is a Sanskrit word that loosely translates into English as "truth" or "correct". It is a term of power due to its purity and meaning and has become the emblem of many peaceful social movements, particularly those centered on social justice, environmentalism and vegetarianism.Satya is also...
(truth), sanyam (restraint),
tapasTapasya in Sanskrit means "heat". In Vedic religion and Hinduism, it is used figuratively, denoting spiritual suffering, mortification or austerity, and also the spiritual ecstasy of a yogin or tāpasá . In the Rigveda, the word is connected with the Soma cult...
(austerity), tyaga (renunciation), akinchanya (lack of possession) and brahmcharya (chastity), as described by
UmaswatiUmaswati is the author of Tattvartha Sutra, the best-known Jaina text. The details of his life are controversial. He is claimed by both the Digambar and Svetambar sects. He is known as Acharya Umaswati, which is a title prefixed to the names of learned men.A mathematician, he is thought to have...
.
In the full form, it is a 10 day vrata that spans 10 years. It may be undertaken during Shukla Panchami to Chaturdashi of Bhadrapada, Magh or Chaitra. However it is common to do it during Bhadrapada, in which case it starts with Paryushana.
Requesting Forgiveness
At the conclusion of the festival, the Sravakas request each other for forgiveness for all offenses committed during the last year. This occurs on the Paryusha day for the Swetambara and on Pratipada (first) of Ashwin Krashna for the Digambara. Forgiveness is asked by telling "Micchami Dukkadam" to each other. It means "If I have caused you offence in any way, knowingly or unknowingly, in thought word or deed, then I seek your forgiveness".
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