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## Porisi and 'Purimadd' - The Text of Pacchakkhan and its Explanation
This is a commentary on the text of Pacchakkhan, a Jain practice of abstaining from food and drink, in relation to the third light of Yogashastra, verse 129.
The rejection of Namukkarasi (with salutations) is to be understood as a single Muhurta (48 minutes) in duration. Even a short Pacchakkhan is accompanied by the Namaskar mantra. This means that after sunrise, when one Muhurta is complete, the Pacchakkhan is not complete until the Navkar mantra is uttered. However, if one were to complete the Pacchakkhan by uttering the Navkar mantra before two Ghadi (24 minutes), then according to the rules of the time limit for rejection, the time would be incomplete, and the rejection would be broken. This proves that Namukkarasi Pacchakkhan takes place from sunrise to the time of one Muhurta, and includes the utterance of the Navkar mantra.
Now, how does one take the first Muhurta? According to the Sutra, the rule is the same as for Porisi. The Sutra is as follows:
**Uggaye Sure Namo-kkara - Sahiyam Pacchakkhai, Chauvviham Pi Aharam Asanam, Panam, Khaim, Saim, Annatthanabhogena Sahasagarenam Yosir.**
**Explanation of the Sutra:**
* **Uggaye Sure** - means from sunrise.
* **Namo-kkara - Sahiyam** - means with the Panchaparameshthi-Namaskar-Mahamantra (the great mantra of salutation to the five supreme beings).
* **Pacchakkhai** - means to reject with salutations.
* **Chauvviham Pi Aharam** - means to reject all four types of food.
* **Asanam, Panam, Khaim, Saim** - these are the four types of food: solid food, liquid food, food that is chewed, and food that is sucked.
* **Annatthanabhogena Sahasagarenam** - means that the rejection is not broken by forgetting or by accidentally taking food.
* **Yosir** - means to abandon.
The meaning of this Sutra is that from sunrise, one should reject all four types of food with the Panchaparameshthi-Namaskar-Mahamantra. The disciple who accepts the words of the Guru Maharaj, who is the one who gives the Pacchakkhan, says "Pacchakkhami" (I reject). Similarly, in the place of "Vosri" (abandons), the disciple says "Vosrami" (I abandon) in acceptance of the words of the Guru Maharaj. What is being abandoned? This is explained by the phrase "Chauvviham Pi Aharam" - I abandon all four types of food. The traditional meaning of this in the community is that one should abstain from all four types of food from the night before the rejection. Or, one should complete the fast of abstaining from food at night by crossing its boundary and reaching the point where the sun rises, and then after one Muhurta (48 minutes) has passed, one should complete the Namukkarasi Pacchakkhan by uttering the Namaskar mantra. The explanation of the four types of food has already been given. Here, the reason why the rejection is not broken is explained by the phrase "Annatthanabhogena Sahasagarenam". Here, the third case ending is used in the sense of the fifth case. The two reasons why the rejection is not broken are "Anabhoga" and "Sahasakar". "Anabhoga" means forgetting the Pacchakkhan that one has taken. "Sahasakar" means an action done in haste or hurry, or an action that is done suddenly and unexpectedly, such as accidentally putting something in one's mouth. For example, if while milking a cow, milk accidentally splashes into one's mouth, or if while bathing, one accidentally splashes water into one's mouth, this is Sahasakar. If this happens, the Pacchakkhan is not broken. The meaning of "Vosri" has already been explained.
Now, the text of the Porisi Pacchakkhan is given:
**Uggaye Sure, Porisi Pacchakkhai Chauvviham Pi Aharam Asanam, Panam, Khaim, Saim, Annatthanabhogena Sahasagarenam, Pacchann-kalena Disamohena Sahuvayanena Savvasamahivittiagarenam Yosir.**
**Porisi (Paurushi)** means the time after sunrise when the shadow of a man's body is equal to the length of his body. This time is also called a Prahar (hour). To abstain from all four types of food for this duration is called Porisi or Paurushi Pacchakkhan. What form does this Pacchakkhan take? It is the rejection of all four types of food: solid food, liquid food, food that is chewed, and food that is sucked. This sentence should be connected to the verb "Vosri". There are six Agars (conditions) in this rejection. The first two Agars should be understood in the same way as the Namukkarasi Pacchakkhan. The remaining four Agars are "Pacchannkalena Disamohena Sahuvayanena Savvasamahivittiagarenam". Therefore, by keeping these six Agars in mind, one should reject all four types of food from sunrise to one Prahar.
* **Pacchannkalena** - means that if the sun is hidden by clouds, dust in the sky, or a mountain, and the shadow is not visible, then the time of the rejection is not known, and even if one completes the Pacchakkhan before Porisi arrives, it is not broken. However, if one is eating at the time, and someone tells them the correct time, or if one