Paryushan Parva

Paryushan - The festivals of Jains meaning "abiding" or "coming together" starts somewhere in the mid of the rainy season from Shravan Vad 12 till Bhadrapad Shudh 4 which lasts for 8 days (shwetamber). 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.

These 8 days are said to be the most auspicious days for the Jains. Unlike the festivals of other religion where it is celebrated with fun and flare, the festival of Paryushan ordains the jains to observe the universal supreme virtues in daily practical life with meditation and prayer which provides an opportunity for looking within and towards the teachings of the Tirthankars for the guidance. Besides assuring a blissful existence in this world and the other world for every living being, it aims at the attainment of salvation - the supreme ideal for mundane soul. The devotees observe the 8 days of Paryushan with different kinds of "Tapasya" and "Upasana". One cannot consume any fruits or even a grain in our upvaas. The upvaas can be of any numbers depending upon the will power of the person. They may be of a day or two or 8 days, 16 days, and even for 31 days. To live without food for such a long time seems to be difficult. But the person who observes fasts for so many days feels like living in a sea of energy. Our body gains energy indirectly from the food we eat, while we gain direct energy from the cosmic energy that flow into us through the medulla oblongata at the bottom of the brain. But as I earlier mentioned this kind of acceptance of energy depends upon the will of the person and the mental set-up. The greater the will, the greater would be the flow of energy.

During the days of Paryushan Jains often take time off from work and eat a much simpler diet in addition to their routine diet. They avoid eating roots like potatoes, onions, garlic, green vegetables, etc. which entails killing the entire plant. People become conscious, rather I would say extra conscious while observing all these so as they commit as minimum sins as possible. We forbid ourself to abide to things like eating and drinking during the day time as nothing is allowed after the sunset. It's a perfect time to reflect and retrospect on the way I breathe my life. Hope we continue this way for the rest of 357 days of the year and respect the lives of other living beings as much as we do for ours....