Part 8 - Celebrations/ Festivals, Prayers and Prime symbol in Jain traditions

Most of the Jain festivals, Prayers and symbols are religious and based on the fundamental principles of Agamas. Some auspicious days are remembered and celebrated to get inspired from the life-scatches of Tirthankars and their virtues. Some of them are briefly mentioned here.

1. Mahavira Jayanti:

It is celebration of birthday of Lord Mahavira (Janma-Kalyanaka). It falls on 13^th day of bright half of the month Chaitra, on which he was born. This sacred event and virtues are meditated upon on this day with Ratha-yatra with the idol of Lord Mahavira.

2. Diwali Festival:

It is celebrated as anniversary of the attainment of Moksa (Nirvana) Mahavira on the last day of month Ashwin. He commenced his last sermon, the final discourse known as “Uttaradhayan”, which lasted for 72 hours, until the night of Diwali. 18 kings of Northern India, present there, decided that light of their master’s knowledge should kept alive symbolically by lighting lamps and celebrated as Deepavali (Deep is lamp and avali is series). This was just an external approach. The true Jain should light up internal lamp; awaken the inner vision by practicing the path preached by Lord Mahavira. Like clay bowl, oil and cotton wick in the Diwali lamp, inner lamp needs right faith, right knowledge and right conduct. Some aspirants observe two days fast as Lord Mahavira had observed. Some recite Mantras. Thus, Diwali is for enhancing the spiritual wealth.

The pure knowledge is worshipped on fifth day of New Year as “Jnana panchami”. The scriptures which impart knowledge are worshipped with religious devotion. Svadhyaya, meditation and Samayika are practiced on this day. Even a student prays that let this knowledge, which he or she is acquiring take him to pure and divine knowledge, Samyak Jnana.

3. Navpad Oli:

Semi fasting called as “Ayambil” is observed on consecutive nine days, twice a year during Chaitra (March/April) and Ashwin (September/October). Food without any spices, oil, sugar, salt, vegetables and milk is consumed once in 24 hours and meditated upon Panch-parmeshti, Jnan, Darsana, Caritra and Tapa, collectively known as Navpad.

4. Maun Agiyaras:

Normally, it falls on 11^th day of bright half of Magsirsa (November/December). Jains observe fast with total silence. Here, inner awareness gets expanded towards spirituality. Meditation is done towards Tirthankaras, whose various auspicious life events (Kalyanakas) fall on this particular day.

5. Paryushana:

The most important annual festival in Jainism to wash our all karmas accumulated throughout the year is Paryusana. It is celebrated during August/September in Caturmas (monsoon) for eight days. Paryusana means burning of all types of karmas: Pari (all kinds) + Usan (to burn). For this purpose, twelve types of austerities like Svadhyaya and Meditation are mentioned in the scriptures to stay closer to our own soul and to suppress our passions like anger, ego and greed. Regular ceremonies in the temple or Upasraya include seventeen sessions of Pratikamana (meditation), discourses on the Holy Scripture “Kalpasutra” containing detailed account of lord Mahavira’s life in addition to other Tirthankars. The reading explaining the meanings is done by monk.

The scripture prescribe five essential activities during this festival for all common people. These are:

1. Amari parivartana to spread the message of non-violence
2. Attham Tapa is fasting for consecutive three days
3. Caitya Paripati is visiting different temples and offer prayers in a group
4. Swami Vatsalya is honoring and respecting fellow Jains
5. Ksamapana is the biggest jewel of Jainism.

All followers extend and seek forgiveness from all including non-Jains during annual meditation. They chant in each meditation:

“Khamemi Savva jiva, savve jiva khamantu me Mitti me savva bhuesu, veram majjham na kenai”.

It means:

“I forgive all the living beings of the universe. May all the living beings forgive me for my faults! I don”t have any animosity towards anybody and have friendship for all.”

This process of forgiveness (Michchhami Dukkadam) from bottom of the heart eliminates hatred and brings humility.