Introduction to Jaina Sadhna

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 69

62: An Introduction to Jaina Sadhanā
ment of self through the practice of austerities. Among the festivals of the Jainas the well known one is the Paryusana. It is celibrated in the month of Bhādrapada by both the sects. When the festival starts, the lay-followers of Jainism spend their time mostly in worshipping Jaina-icons, hearing religious discourses and reading the religious books ( svādhyāya ) and observe fasts and proșadha. They do self-scrutiny everyday in the morning and evening by way of retrospection ( pratikramana). The Svetāmbaras observe the last day of paryusana as the Samvatsari-parva and on that day they observe fast, attend the religious discourses, make self-criticism for any moral lapses, evil deeds and hostilities occuring during the year, and atonements are undertaken. On that day they ask forgiveness from all irrespective of friends or foes and declare
Khāmemi savve Jivā savve jivā khamantu me Mitti me savvabhūesu veram majjham na kaņae.
(Āvaśyaka-sūtra, 4.32) I forgive all living beings and pray that they all should forgive me. I am friendly to all living beings and bear no ill-will to anybody.
During these festive days, the observance of nonviolence is also considered to be a primary duty. In ancient times many Jaina preceptors exercised their influence in getting these days marked out as non-violence days by the rulers.
In the Digambara sect Paryusana is known as Dasalaksana-parva. They also observe it by doing pūjā (worship of Jaina-icons ), studying religious books and undergoing the discipline of ten virtues, viz., forgiveness, modesty, straightforwardness, truth, celibacy, etc. In addition to this main festival, Sodaśa-karanabhāvanā, Navapada-oli, Astāhnika-parva, Aksaya trtiyā, Sruta-pañcami and the day of conception, birth, initiation, enlightenment and emancipation ( Nirvāṇa ) of the Tirthankaras