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PARYUSHAN
MAHAPARV
THE FASTING PERIOD OF JAINS TIME TO CLEANSE YOUR
SOUL.
The Paryushana is the most important festival
among the Jain festivals and it is observed during every
Chaturmas commencing on the twelfth day of the shukla phase of
Bhadrapad month and ending on the fourth day of Krishna Phase
of Bhadrapad. This is in August-September, and peak monsoon
time (this year it starts from 15th August 2001 and ends on
22nd Aug'01). For the Swetambara sect of Jains, Paryushana is
an eight-day event, while for the Digambaras it stretches over
ten days.
Its origin is related to the staying of the
monks in one place in Chaturmas (4 months of monsoon). As
during this time the monks have settled in the town for a
longer duration, it is time for the householders to have an
annual renewal of the faith by listening to the statement of
the Dharma and by meditation and vratas (self-control). And
for the monks, almost as importantly, staying in one place
during the monsoon reduces the risk of causing accidental
death to numerous insects and smaller forms of life that
thrive during the rains.
Paryushana is a time of
reflection on actions and meditation on the past year.
Paryushana is marked by strict observance of the ten cardinal
virtues: forgiveness, charity, simplicity, contentment,
truthfulness, self-restraint, fasting, detachment, humility
and continence. During the eight-day Paryushana festival, the
Swetambaras recite the religious text, the Kalpa Sutra
(including a section on the birth of Lord Mahavira), on the
fifth day.The Digambara sect recites the Tatvartha-sutra of
Umaswati.
During this festival, Jains of all ages visit
the divine temples or Upashrayas to listen to the discourses
and readings of Kalpa Sutra. In the evenings, Jains perform a
kriya called Pratikraman, a form of meditation to reflect on
spiritual journey.
Most Jains fast in some form of the
other in these days. It is not and uncommon sight to see 8 day
fasters, who do not consume anything in these eight days. Even
water must be boiled and can be drunk only between 10 a.m. and
5 p.m. (approx.) Every now and then one does come across a
faster who has not eaten for a whole month too!!! Penance and
fasting are the key words in these days. Many jains abstain
from onions,garlic,potatoes, root vegetables and green
vegetables.
In the Digambaras, the 10-day period of
Paryushana starts from Bhadrapada Shukla panchami during which
the dashalakshana vrata is undertaken. Paryushan for Digambars
ends on Chaturdashi of Bhadrapada. In the Swetambaras an 8-day
festival is celebrated that ends with Bhadrapada Shukla
panchami. The last day is called Samvatsari, short for
Samvatsari Pratikramana. Seven days are days of attainment and
the eighth day is one of fulfillment or achievement. In this
manner,the Samvatsari Mahaparva the annual festival is
celebrated.
It is at this time that Jains embark on
their respective annual pratikramana - a reflection on their
spiritual journey for the past year. On this day they also
observe a unique custom, where they ask every individual they
may have offended during the year for forgiveness. Old
quarrels are forgotten and friendships and relationships
renewed, as they fold their hands and ask for
"Micchamidukadam" or forgiveness.
Michchhami means to
be fruitless (forgiven) and Dukkadam (Dushkrut) means bad
deeds. Therefore the meaning of Michchhami Dukkadam is my bad
deeds (with you) be fruitless. So concept behind saying or
writing someone "Michchhami Dukkadam" is that if I have done
any harm to you then those bad deeds to be forgiven (be
fruitless).
The following is the prayer we say while
doing Pratikraman:
"KHAMEMI SAVVE JIVE,
SAVVE
JIVA KHAMANTU ME
METTI ME SAVVE BHUYESU,
VERAM MAJAHAM N
KENAI"
It means:
"I forgive (from the bottom of my
heart without any reservation) all living beings (who may have
caused me any pain and suffering either in this life or
previous lives), and I beg (again from the bottom of my heart
without any reservation) for the forgiveness from all living
beings (no matter how small or big to whom I may have caused
pain and suffering in this life or previous lives, knowingly
or unknowingly, mentally, verbally or physically, or if I have
asked or encouraged someone else to carry out such
activities). (Let all creatures know that) I have a friendship
with everybody and I have no revenge (animosity or enmity)
toward anybody."
Pratikramana includes:
Samayika: to stay in equanimity by withdrawing to
the self.
Prayers to the Five Supremes, 24 Jinas and the 4
mangalas, including the Dharma as presented by the ancient
Masters.
Prayer to the Master(Guru) or the Deity.
Reflections on vratas and past transgressions.
Kayotsarga: detachment from the body by controlling it.
Pratyakhyan: making resolutions for the next period (next
year for Samvatsari Pratikramana).
Dasha-Lakshana
Vrata:
This is a vrata that celebrates components of
the dharma: Noble kshama (forbearance), mardava (gentleness),
arjava (uprightness), shaucha (purity), satya (truth), sanyam
(restraint), tapa (austerity), tyaga (renunciation),
akinchanya (lack of possession) and brahmcharya (chastity), as
described by Umaswati.
In the full form, it is a 10
day vrata that spans 10 years. It may be undertaken during
Shukla Panchami to Chaturdashi of Bhadrapada, Magh or Chaitra.
However it it common to do it during Bhadrapada, in which case
it starts with Paryushana.
BY
VEER DINESH
KUMAR
PARSI NEW YEAR--- NAVROZE
Over 3000
years ago Shah Jamshed of the Peshadian dynasty ascended the
throne on "NAVROZE" - nav meaning new and roze meaning day. It
was the day of the Equinox - a day when light and darkness
stand equal on the scale of space and time when the length of
the day equals that of the night. That particular day came to
be known as Jamshed Navroz and is celebrated even in modern
times with lot of feasting.
This new day is the beginning
of a new year, a new awakening into an inner sphere of
spiritual consciousness and anew vision of life. It is the
time of questioning of looking within oneself, of seeing the
millions of miracles that take place within the vast
universe.
Navroz means spring when Mother Nature casts
off everything that is old or super-flows and dresses herself
like a young bride in every vibrant colour and hue, rejoicing
in her own pure spiritual beauty. Thus Navroz is a new dawn in
everyone's life.
Parsis believe that there are six
seasons in a year with an important festival in each of them.
These festivals are known by the name of GAHAMBARS. These were
originally agricultural festivals but as Zorastrianism
developed, they assumed religious significance. Parsis
celebrate Khordad Sal as the birth of their Prophet Zorastor
who was born in the middle of second millennium B.C. His birth
anniversary falls on the 6th day of the first month of the
Zoroastrian Calendar and is observed with rejoicings. In each
of these festivals Parsis do a lot of charity to the needy. To
extend a helping hand to the poor is special characteristic of
the Parsis.
Men, women and even children wake up early,
bath and dress up in new clothes. They decorate the threshold
and steps of their houses with coloured powders, light incense
sticks and sprinkle sandalwood powder on live coals, kept in a
censor. All this not only is auspicious but also is meant to
purify the air.
Food plays a very important role as a
significant part of all Parsi festivals. Parsi food is a
delicious blend of West Indian and Indian cuisine. Parsis
being non-vegetarian, fish, mutton, chicken, nuts, spices and
fruits are bought a day before and a variety of dishes are
prepared for the following day of Navroz.
For breakfast
on the day of Navroz two special dishes are served. One is the
"Ravo" made with Suji, milk and sugar and the other is fried
vermiceli cooked in sugar syrup and sprinkled with raisins and
lot of almond slivers. After breakfast all the family member
go to the nearest Fire Temple or Agiary as it is called. In
the temple a "JASHAN" - a thanks giving prayer is performed by
the priest and each one of the assembled gathering offers
sandalwood to the Holy Fire. As per the Parsi custom everyone
has to cover their heads while praying inside the temple.
Children put on cops of gold or silver brocade, men put on
black velvet caps and the women pull their sari pallus over
their heads. After the "Jashan" ceremony all people greet each
other by saying "Sal Mubarak".
Lunch consists of
Pulav, rich with nuts and saffron, fish in green masala and
spicy chicken curries. In Parsi community besides all the
delicacies, cooking plain rice and moong dal is a "must" on
this Navroz day. Food packets and clothes are handed over to
the poor Parsi families by the children of the family. Parsi
children are thus taught to give and share with
others.
Throughout the day on this festival of Navroz,
there is much visiting of friends and relatives. Every visitor
is offered some sweet and a glass of "faluda" - a sweet and
chilled vermicelli and flavoured with rose essence. In all
Parsi homes a silver tray is kept ready with roses, coconuts
and kumkum for `tilak'. Rose water is freely sprayed on every
visitor as he enters. By this time the artistic and coloured
designs on the doorsteps are smudged and messy but no one pays
attention in the hilarious mood of the
festival.
Although quite westernised in their life
styles, Parsis are traditionally rigid in thoughts. So they
observe all the rituals, prayers and modes of greetings as
laid down in their religion for celebrating NAVROZ which is
their New year.
Many of the rituals, prayers,
greetings, exchangings, gifts, decorating and beautifying the
houses are common to all the Indian festivals. But what is of
paramount importance in the case of Parsi festivals is the
free mixing of men and women which certainly is a sign of
equality.
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