Paryushana
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Paryushan Parva | |
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Also called | Paryushan Parva |
Observed by | Jain Temple |
Date | August or September |
Related to | Samvatsari (Shwtemabar) |
Part of a series on |
Jainism |
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Paryushana is an annual holy event for
Meaning
Paryushana means "abiding and coming together". It is a time when the Jains take on vows of study and fasting.[4]
Observances
The Digambara Jains recite the ten chapters of the Jain text, Tattvartha Sutra on ten days of Das Lakshan Parva. The sixth day of the festival is celebrated as Sugandh Dashami by the Digambar Community. Digambaras celebrate Ananta Chaturdashi on which a special worship is done. Many towns have a procession leading to the main Jain temple. Ananta Chaturdashi marks the day when Lord Vasupujya, the 12th Jain Tirthankar, attained Moksha (nirvana).[citation needed]
At the conclusion of the festival, followers request forgiveness from others for any offenses committed during the last year. Forgiveness is asked by saying Micchami Dukkadam or Uttam Kshama to others, which means, "If I have offended you in any way, knowingly or unknowingly, in thought, word or action, then I seek your forgiveness."
During the eight-day festival, the
Fasting
During Paryushana, Jains observe a fast. The span of the fast can last from a day to 30 days or even more. In both
Requesting forgiveness
At the conclusion of the festival, śrāvakas request each other for forgiveness for all offenses committed during the last year.
Date
The date for the Paryushana festival is
It is believed that the devas (heavenly beings) do an eight-part puja (worship) of the tirthankaras, which takes eight days. Śvētāmbara Jains celebrate this period as Paryushana.
Closure
Slaughter houses are kept closed for 1–8 days during the Paryushana festival in Indian states (e.g. Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra) that have a large
In a multi-cultural country like ours with such diversity, one should not be over sensitive and over touchy about a short restriction when it is being done out of respect for the sentiments of a particular section of society. It has been stated above that the great Emperor Akbar himself used to remain a vegetarian for a few days every week out of respect for the vegetarian section of the Indian society and out of respect for his Hindu wife. We too should have similar respect for the sentiments for others, even if they are a minority sect. (para 74)
See also
- Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
- Ratnatraya
- God in Jainism
- Jain cosmology
- Sallekhana
- Jain festival
References
Citations
- ^ a b Katju, Justice Markandey (14 March 2008), Supreme Court Judgement regarding Closure of Slaughter houses during Paryushan, The Supreme Court of India[permanent dead link]
- ISBN 1-57607-089-1
- ^ a b Dhanpal Jain (4 September 2008), "Paryushan Parva, festival of forgiveness", The Times of India
- ^ "Jain festival of Paryushan finds many admirers", The Times of India, 1 September 2016
- ^ a b "Jains pray for peace, brotherhood", The Hindu, 13 September 2007, archived from the original on 7 November 2012
- ^ a b Doniger 1999, p. 555.
- ^ Preeti Srivastav (31 August 2008). "Request for Forgiveness". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 1 October 2012.
- ^ POKHAREL, KRISHNA (11 September 2015). "Why Mumbai Is Banning Meat This Weekend". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
Sources
- ISBN 0-87779-044-2
- Jain, Champat Rai (1917), Ratnakaranda Sravakachar of Acharya Samantabhadra
- Jaina (1992), Pratikraman
- Nirvana Sagar (1986), Pratikramana-sutra