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FEBRUARY 2017
PRABUDDH JEEVAN
When Raja Nandivardhan, the brother of Shraman Palitana on this day is considered to be of great Bhagawan Mahavir was steeped in sorrow and anguish importance. Thousands of Jains go on pilgrimages on on account of the latter's nirvan (attainment of Mukti) this day. This day also is celebrated as the birthday of his sister, Sudarshana took him to her house and Kalikalasarvajna, Acharya Bhagavant Sri Vijay comforted him. This happened on the second day of Hemachandrasooriji who was born on this day. (in the fortnight of the waxing moon, in Kartik. This day is Vikram Samvat 1134 or 1078 A.D.). observed as Bhai Beej. This festival is like Raksha
his festival is like Raksha Maun Ekadashi Bandhan. On the day of Rakshabandhan, the sister (The holy day for observing silence). goes to the brother and ties the Raksha; but on this
Maun Ekadashi falls on the 11th day of the fort-night day, the sister invites her brother to her house to of the waxing moon in the month of Margshirsh. This is felicitate him.
an important day for Jains on which they observe total Jnan Panchami
silence-Maun and carry out such austerities as (The holy day for acquiring knowledge)
Paushadhvrat, fasting, worshipping of gods, meditation Jnan Panchami is the name given to the celebration
etc. This is the day on which the great events relating
to the one hundred and fifty Jineswaras are celebrated that takes place on the 5th day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in Kartik (the 5th day after Diwali). This
by means of holy recitation. The story of Suvrat day has been fixed for the worship of pure knowledge;
Shresthi is connected with this day. and on this day, by way of worshipping knowledge,
Paushdashami fasting, taking Paushadh, devavandan (offering
This day is famous as the birthday of Bhagwan veneration to Gods), holy recitation, meditation. Parshwanath. On the 10th day of Pushya, hundreds Pratikraman etc., are carried out. Moreover the books
and thousands of Jain men and women perform the preserved in the religious libraries are cleansed and
tapasya of 3 Upavas-attham (continuous fasting for 3 worshipped.
days) and by means of recitation and meditation they Ashadh Chaturdasi
try to attain spiritual welfare. A grand fair takes place
in Sankheswar which is a sacred place for Jains. The sacred commencement of Chaturmas takes
Thousands of people gather here and perform the place on the 14th day of the fortnight of the waxing
austerity of Attham. moon, in the month of Ashad. The Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis remain where they happen to be on that day
Akshay Tritiya until the 14th day of Kartik Shukla. They have to stay
Those noble people who perform the austerity of there, during these four months. Among the Jains, many
Varsitap complete the austerity on this day by taking
sugar-cane juice in the cool shadow of Shatrunjay. austerities like renunciation, tapasya, undertaking of
Bhagwan Rishabdev performed the Parana religious ceremonies, etc., are organized. Even in respect of eating and drinking during these days, some
(completion of an austerity) on this day after fasting rules have been prescribed.
for one year continuously. This day is considered to
be very auspicious for going on a pilgrimage to Kartik Poornima
Shatrunjay. This falls on the 3rd day of the bright The full moon day of Kartik
fortnight of Vaishakh. The Chaturmas that begins on Ashadh Chaturdashi
[Lesson Sixteen Next Issue] comes to an end on the full moon day in Kartik. After 76-C, Mangal Flat No. 15, 3rd Floor, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai this, the Jain Sadhus and Sadhvis begin their wandering Road, Matunga, Mumbai-400019. Mo: 96193/79589 Padyatra i.e., travel on foot. A pilgrimage to Shatrunjay- 798191 79589. Email: kaminigogri@gmail.com
‘પ્રબુદ્ધ જીવનને પચ્ચીસ હજારનું અનુદાન આપી કોઈ પણ એક મહિનાનું સૌજન્ય પ્રાપ્ત કરશે.
‘પ્રબુદ્ધ જીવન ના ખાસ અંક માટેના સૌજન્યનું અનુદાન રૂપિયા ચાલીસ હજાર છે.
સ્વજનને શબ્દાંજલિ જ્ઞાનકર્મથી અર્પી જ્ઞાન,ઉચ્ચ પ્રાપ્ત કરો.
