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RITUALS
D07 - Jain Festivals (Parvas) and Celebrations
D07 - Jain Festivals (Parvas) and Celebrations
Jainism has a rich tradition of festivals and rituals. Traditionally, festivals are a time for celebration, jubilation, enjoyment, and entertainment. But the Jain festivals and rituals emphasize the spiritual aspects of Jainism. They are meant for renunciation, austerities, study of the scriptures, recitation of holy hymns, meditation, and expression of devotion for the Tirthankars. Celebration of festivals and practice of rituals revitalize and strengthen our beliefs in Jainism. The Jain festivals are known as Parvas. The word "Parva" means auspicious day.
Every year, our festivals fall on different dates according to the Christian Calendar, because we follow a Lunar calendar, known as Panchaang. Since the moon takes 29.5 days to go through its phases, a lunar year is 29.5 12 = 354 days. We add a month every 2-3 years to our lunar calendar so that we do not drift too far away from the Christian Calendar.
01 Kalyanaks - Auspicious Events
Jains celebrate five major events (Pancha Kalyänak) of the life of a Tirthankar. The five major events in the life of a Tirthankar are called Kalyanaks (Auspicious Events). They are:
1. Chyavana or Garbha Kalyanak (Conception Event)
This is the event when a Tirthankar's soul leaves its previous body, and is conceived in the mother's womb on earth. After Tirthankar's soul is conceived, the mother witnesses fourteen dreams according to Shvetämbar texts and sixteen according to Digambar texts. A Tirthankar's soul, while even in mother's womb, possesses three types of knowledge, namely Mati Jnän (sensory knowledge), Shruta Jnän (scriptural knowledge), and Avadhi Jnän (clairvoyance).
2. Janma Kalyänak (Birth Event)
This is the event when the Tirthankar is born. When a Tirthankar is born, Indra Dev (king of Heaven) and other heavenly gods, due to their utter respect and devotion to the Tirthankar, come down to the earth. They then take the newly born Tirthankar to the summit of Mt. Meru for anointing and bathing ceremony and celebrate the birth of a Tirthankar (Janma Abhisheka ceremony).
3. Dikshä or Tapa Kalyanak (Initiation Event)
This is the event when the Tirthankar gives up all his/her worldly possessions and family relationships and becomes a monk/nun. He initiates himself into the ascetic order. One year before the time of renunciation, a group of celestial angels comes to pay homage to the future Tirthankar. They request him/her to renounce the world and reestablish religious order for the benefit of all living beings. When a Tirthankar renounces the worldly life, he attains Manah-paryäva Jnän (telepathy), the fourth type of the knowledge.
4. Keval-jnän Kalyanak (Omniscience Event)
This is the event when a Tirthankar attains omniscience when he completely eradicates four kinds of defiling Karmas, known as Ghäti Karma by the practice of severe discipline, penance and meditation, and attains Keval-jnän.
Upon becoming a Tirthankar, the Indra Dev (supreme Heavenly God) creates eight Pratihärya for the Tirthankar and a Samavasaran (three layered tall structure) from where He delivers the sermon. This is the most important event for the entire Jain Sangh as the Tirthankar reestablishes Jain order (Sangh) and preaches the Jain path of purification and liberation. Sermons are attended by Devas, ascetics, laity and animals
5. Nirvana Kalyanak (Nirväna Event)
This is the event when a Tirthankar's soul is forever liberated from this worldly physical existence (cycle of birth and death) and becomes a Siddha. Just prior to Nirvana, the Tirthankar's soul destroys the remaining four Aghäti Karmas completely, and attains salvation, the state of eternal bliss.
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015
