Paryushan Parva
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A backgrounder
The Times of India, Sep 18 2015
Dhanpal Solanki Jain The liberating aspect of Paryushan Parva
Paryushan Parva, the annual Jain observance, is the time to get uplifted through fasting, meditation, soul-searching, awakening, self-study, courage, compassion and forgiveness for all beings. For both Shvetambar Jains, who observe the ritual over eight days, and Digambar Jains, for whom the festival lasts 10 days, this is a time for introspection, reflection and purification, popularly known as Chaturmas or Varsha Yog.
Chaturmas literally means `four months', derived from the Sanskrit `chatur', four and `masa', month. Chaturmas mean four months of the monsoon, and during this time both Digambar and Shvetambar Jain monks and nuns make themselves available to the community for instruction and guidance.
Paryushan is the time when, to improve karmas, adherents perform 12 kinds of austerities, including fasting. They also do svadhyaya or self-study. The purpose of Paryushan is to stay close to your soul, reflect on your shortcomings, seek forgiveness for wrongdoings, remove internal corruption and vow to live an ethical way of life. Daily meditation and prayer help one to look within and reflect on the teachings of the tirthankaras for guidance.
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 24th tirthankara 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.
Jainism is the Sramana tradition of India. Mahavira led a socio-spiritual, non-violent movement. He rejected superstitious practices, blind faith, caste system, gender bias, Sati and animal sacrifice. He encouraged equity and scientific temper. He did not preach, but practised his philosophy. He regarded all species of flora and fauna as integral to a composite moral community. He emphasised the concept of aparigraha or non-possessiveness.
The fivefold mantra that is recited offers obeisance not to God or Creator, but to arihants or perfected beings, siddhas or liberated souls, acharyas or masters, upadhyayas or teachers, sadhus or renunciates. With mantra-chanting, seekers find liberation through their own efforts, and not by waiting for divine intervention. Jainism lays great emphasis on rational, scientific, compassionate, courageous and ethical way of life based on comp lete equanimity and tranquillity.
The first tirthankara Rishabh Dev, gave us six concepts Asi: self-defence, civil defence; Masi: art, culture, literature and education; Krishi: agrarian lifestyle; Vidya: schooling, knowledge and training; Vanijya: trade and commerce, enterprise; and Shilpkala: architecture, handicrafts and skill development.
During Paryushan Parva vegetarian meals are made simpler than usual. For Shvetambars, the final day of Paryushan is Samvastsari Pratikraman or annual confession, when it is time for confession and seeking forgiveness as well as being forgiving, enabling Self-liberation. The ritual of seeking forgiveness from the teacher is widened in scope to include family, friends and all living beings. The culmination of confession is receiving forgiveness from all living beings and also forgiving everyone including oneself.
This ritual is also called the rite of universal friendship. Those who do manage to fast, speak in glowing terms of the wonderful effects of penance that purifies the soul. The greater the will, the greater would be the flow of energy, they say. Tirthankara Rishabhdev is said to have performed penance for one year at a stretch. During the process of penance, toxins accumulated in body cells get expelled. The body is recharged, energised and relaxed. And there is mental and physical wellbeing.
