ISJS Jainism Study Notes E5 Vol 01

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 233

satisfied. The next day was taken as the first day of the new time period i.e. 4th time period of the declining epoch i.e. dawn of karmayuga.
Digambaras on the other hand consider the end of declining epoch (avasarpini) and beginning of utsarpiņi epoch. The first ten days of this transition see the end of fierce rains of fire etc and the beginning of normal rains of water, milk etc. The earth has vegetation growing and the remaining 72 couples (human beings) hiding in the caves come out and start inhabiting the earth again, i.e. they heave a sigh of relief and start leading normal lives. They celebrate this event for ten days to commemorate the beginning of human settlement in comfort.
Since Jains believe in continuous cycles avasarpiņi and utsarpiņi epochs; we say that they are eternal i.e. had been, are being and will always be celebrated.
Svetāmbara Jains celebrate this parva from 12th day of the dark fortnight of Bhādra till fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra month and call this festival as Samavatsirī. Digmabara Jains celebrate it as Dasa Laksana from 5th day of the bright fortnight of Bhadra till 14th day of the same fortnight. They have one chapter of Tattvārtha-sūtra taught to them every day. Also there are lectures on ten dharmas/commandments, one each day by scholars or monks. The Jains keep fasts, from half day to the entire period depending on their willpower and capacity, go to the temples and perform pūjā, listen to the sermons from monks etc. There are plays, storytelling and other religious activities. On the last day, invariably every Jain donates hefty amounts of money for religious cause of their choice. Digambara Jains take out processions on the last day and have community lunch etc. A day after the last day is celebrated as the Day of Forgiveness when everyone seeks forgiveness from one and all for the pains or miseries caused by them.
2.1.2 Eternal: Astāhnikā Digambara Jains celebrate this festival every year for eight days in the months of Kārtika, Phālguna and Āsādha i.e. after every four months, from the eighth day to fourteenth day of the bright fortnight. It is said that angels with the right vision leave their kingdoms and go to Nandīśvara Island having 52 natural Jain temples and 5616 Jain idols to perform worship of siddhas. Human beings cannot go to Nandīśvara Island and hence build a replica of Nandiśvara Island in the temple and perform mass pūjā of the siddhas for eight days to earn good karmas and hence good luck. Śvetāmbara Jains also celebrate it accordingly.
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STUDY NOTES version 5.0