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

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

Page 250

RITUALS
D07 - Jain Festivals (Parvas) and Celebrations
Kalyänak for the 19th Tirthankar Bhagawän Mallinäth. Any religious activities performed on this day is more fruitful than any other day.
One Fast done on this day gives fruits of 150 fasts.
12 Posh Dashami
This day is celebrated as the birthday of 23rd Tithankar Lord Pärshvanath. On the 9th, 10th, 11th days of Margshirsh month (usually falls in December), hundreds and thousands of Jain men and women perform the austerity of Attham, 3 continuous days of Upavas and by means of recitation and meditation they try to achieve divine welfare. A grand fair takes place in Shankeshwar, which is a sacred place for Jains. Thousands of Jains gather there and perform the austerity of "Attham".
The observer can also do Ekasanas (taking lunch once in a day) of Sugared Water, Khir and full lunch for three days.
13 Varsitap
This yearlong austerity (Tapa) consists of fasting every other day followed by only one or two meal on the next day. This yearlong austerity signifies the event in the life of our first Tirthankar Ädinäth, who did not get Gochari (alms) for one year after his initiation (Dikshä). The Pärnä ceremony for Varsitapa is observed in India with large celebration at Hastinapur where Shreyänskumär, great grandson of Bhagwan Ädinäth offered Him sugarcane juice to break his fast.
14 Akshaya Tritiya - Varsitap Pärnä
This marks the fast breaking day of a yearlong fast by the first Tirthankar Lord Rishabhdev. Jains who have been fasting on an alternate day for a year break their fast by drinking fresh sugar cane juice.
This festival is celebrated on Vaishäkha Sud 3 (third day of the month of Vaishakha). The first TirthankarBhagawän Rishabhdev got Charitra i.e. left the worldly pleasures after 83 Lakha Purva years of home-life. It is said that Karma has no effect of any brave people or even of Indra. Lord Rishabhdev went to many houses to get the proper food (Gochari) for him, but no one could understand his desire of food. The people were ready to give elephants, horses, jewelry or even brides to him. But they did not offer any food.
In the previous birth, Lord Rishhabhdev had tied a net on the face of a cow and he did the sin of starving the cow, so the previous Karma was the cause of this incident. At the end, Shreyans Kumar gave him the juice of sugarcane and Rishabhdev broke his fast. This day is known as Akshaya Tritiya from that time.
15 Fägun Sud Teras
This day falls on the thirteenth day of the month of Fälgun (usually in the beginning of March). The circumambulation of 6 Gäus (1 Gäu means 3.2 Kms.) at Shatrunjay Mountains is done on this day.
16 Twelve Tithis
Twelve tithis in each month are 2nd, 5th, 8th, 11th, 14th and 15th days of each half-moon cycle. Most jains observe five days, shukla 5th, two 8th, and two 14th days. Jain shastras indicate that the Ayushyabandh for next life takes place on one of these days and one's physical and spiritual activities are significantly contributory.
17 Chaumäsi Chaudas
Three Shukla Chaudas in month of Kärtak, Fälgun and Ashädh are celebrated as Chaumäsi chaudas. 18 Mastaka Abhisheka The Head Anointing Ceremony
Perhaps the most famous example of Pujä performed on a grand scale in Jainism is the Mastaka Abhisheka (head anointing) ceremony held every twelfth year in Shravanbelgola. This honors the spiritual hero Bähubali, who is represented by a colossal fifty-seven foot image carved from rock nearly a thousand years ago. Thousands of Jains of both traditions come to pay homage during the several weeks during which the celebration goes on; Bähubali thus receives the kind of adoration otherwise
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Compendium of Jainism - 2015