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The tradition of inscriptions on the pedestal of images has its origin in the remote antiquity. Therefore, the inscriptions number in thousands. These image-inscriptions also provide valuable information about kings and their reigns, ascetics, bhattārakas, their lineage, lay devotees and their families, etc. There is a need for publication of these image-inscriptions as well.
JAIN FESTIVALS
Festivals infuse a new vigour, joy, and inspiration in human life. Breaking monotony, they rejuvenate social life. In absence of festivals life of man would become stagnant. He would be disgusted with monotonous life; his life would become devoid of joy, variety and inspiration as well as ambition.
Festivals are celebrated in memory of great men or important incidents. Jain festivals are of two kinds - nitya (perpetual or general) and naimittika (causal or commemorative). The general festivals are those that are celebrated always since time immemorial. Commemorative festivals are those related to the auspicious events in the lives of Tīrthařkaras or in memory of some specific incident. The general festivals include Paryusaņa parva and Astānhikā parva. The commemorative festivals include Mahāvīra Jayanti, Aksaya Tritīyā, Śruta Pañcami, Raksā Bandhana, Dīpāvalī, etc. Brief details of some important Jain festivals are included here.
Paryūšana - This festival is also called Daśa Laksaņa festival. This festival is celebrated three times every year, during the months of Caitra, Bhādrapada, and Māgha. This ten-day festival is celebrated from fifth to fourteenth day of the bright half of each of these months. During the Bhādrapada month it is celebrated with great enthusiasm by the whole Jain community and during these ten days a variety of functions are organized. Although religion is one it is believed to have ten limbs in the form of excellence in the ten attributes of kśamā (forgiveness), mārdava (humality), ārjava (straightforwardness), śauca (purity), satya (truthfulness), samyam (self control), tapa (austerity), tyāga (giving up), akiñcanya (aloofness), and brahmacarya (celibacy). In fact, these attributes constitute the intrinsic nature of soul but he is unaware of these due to ignorance. Therefore, in name of this
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