$JES 904 Compendium of Jainism (Jain Academic Bowl Manual 3rd Edition)

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 246

RITUALS
DO7 - Jain Festivals (Parvas) and Celebrations
Rishabhdev, Neminäth, and Pärshvanath are also narrated in detail. On Samvatsari day, entire
scripture is read with great reverence. Samvatsari - The Day of Forgiveness
The final day of Paryushan, known as Samvatsari, is the most important day of Paryushan. On this day, Jains ask for forgiveness from family, friends, enemies, and anyone else with whom they have had problems and/or hard feelings for hurting them in any way, either knowingly or unknowingly, during the year. Jain scriptures advise that, forgiving all and not harboring ill will towards anyone, is a definite step forward in the spiritual journey towards liberation. Accordingly, the annual Samvatsari Pratikraman is the most important day in Jain tradition. Asking for forgiveness is difficult, as it requires humility Vinay - (absence of ego) and suppression of anger. Therefore, our great Acharyas have said, "Kshamä Virasya Bhushanam, Kshamäväni Michchhä Mi Dukkadam". To ask for forgiveness is a great quality of the brave ones. If I have committed any mistakes, I ask for your forgiveness.
Khamemi Savva Jive, Savve Jivä Khamantu Me Mitti Me Savva Bhuesu, Veram Majjha na Kenai.
I forgive all the living beings of the universe, May all the living beings forgive me for my faults. I do not have any animosity towards anybody, and
I have friendship for all living beings 03 Das Lakshana Parva Shvetämbars observe eight days of Paryushan, while Digambars celebrate a ten-day of Das-Lakshana Parva, which begins on the last day of Shvetämbar Paryushan. The Digambar tradition celebrates the ten best characteristics of the soul. These cardinal virtues are the inherent qualities of a soul. They are various forms of right conduct. The practice of observing these virtues is not limited to only one particular religion or tradition. They belong to the universal faith. The results of observance of these virtues are equally beneficial to all mankind and not only to a follower of the Jain faith only. Das-Lakshana Parva or Yati-dharma (Supreme Dharma):
Kshama (forbearance), Märdava (humility), Ärjava (straightforwardness), Shaucha (absence of greed, purity of mind), Satya (truthfulness), Sanyam (self-restraint), Tapa (penance), Tyag (renunciation), Äkinchanya (absence of a feeling of ownership), and
Brahmacharya (celibacy) Some traditions read the Tattvärtha Sutra, an ancient Jain scripture that covers the entire Jain philosophy, to the congregation. The scripture has 10 chapters and one chapter is read every day. These ten virtues are pure passionless modes of the conduct attribute of the soul. Word 'supreme prefixed to each one denotes that there is inevitable existence of the Right Belief and the Right Knowledge (Samyag Darshan and Samyag Jnän). These pure virtues are always associated with enlightened soul and are not present in the ignorant soul with wrong belief.
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015