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Jaina Community-A Social Survey
Mahavira is explained to Jainas and non-Jainas alike. In some states and provinces this day is declared as a public holiday. This is the only festival commonly celebrated by all sections of the Jaina community.
(v) Virasāsana Jayanti :
This is celebrated mainly by Digambara Jainas every year on the first day of the dark half of Sravana. The day is important because on this very day Lord Mahavira, after gaining omniscience delivered his first religious discourse on the Vipulachala mountain near Rajagṛha in the country of Magadha.142
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(vi) Śruta-Panchamī :
Śruta-panchami falls on the fifth day of the bright half of Jyeshtha. On this day, according to Digambaras, their two saints Pushpadanta and Bhutabali, completed the writing of the sacred book Shatkhandagama and it was then worshipped by all members of the Jaina community. In remembrance of that event every year on that day the Digambaras worship their sacred books and remove dust and insects from them.143 The Svetambaras do the same thing on the fifth day of the bright half of Kartika. They call this day as Jnana-panchami instead of Śruta-panchmi.144 The institution of this festival has been of incalculable use in preserving Jaina literature, for not only are the books worshipped but all the volumes in Jaina treasure-houses are supposed to be dusted, freed from insects and rearranged on this day.14
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(vii) Days of Abstinence :
In addition to the special days like the above, many Svetāmbara Jainas observe as fasts, with more or less strictness, twelve days in every month. These days are the two second, the two fifth, the two eighth, the two eleventh, the two fourteenth and the bright and dark fifteenth of each month.146 The Digambaras, however, observe as fasts ten days in every month of the year, that is, the second, the fifth, the eighth, the eleventh and the fourtteenth days of both bright and dark halves of the month.147 Those who cannot do these throughout the year, do it only during Chaturmasa, that is, the four months of rain from Ashadha to Kartika.148 Less devout Jainas among the Svetambaras observe only five days of abstinence,. namely, the two eighth, the two fourteenth
