Religious festivals
Jain
festivals
occur on designated days of the year.
Jain festivals
are either related to life events of
Tirthankara
or they are performed with intention of purification of soul.
Festivals
[
edit
]
There are many religious festivals in
Jainism
. Some of them are associated with five auspicious life events of
Tirthankara
known as
Panch Kalyanaka
.
[1]
Jains celebrate many annual festivals. Many of the major festivals in Jainism fall in and around the
chaomasa
(Sanskrit:
chaturmasa
) period of the calendar.
It is the four-month monsoon period when the Jain ascetics are mandated to remain in residence at one place in the Jain tradition, rather than be traveling or going around Indian villages and towns and never staying in one place for more than a month. The
comasu
period allows the four orders of the Jain community to be together and participate in the festive remembrances.
[
citation needed
]
Paryushana
[
edit
]
Paryushana
Parva
is one of the most important festival for Jains. Paryusana is formed by two words meaning 'a year' and 'a coming back'. This festival comes in the months of Shravana and Bhadra (August or September).
?vet?mbara
Jains celebrate it for eight-days while
Digambara
Jains celebrate it for ten days. It is also known as
Das Lakshana Parva
. It is a festival of repentance and forgiveness. Many Jains
fast
and carry out different religious activities.
Jain monks
stop walking during
chaturmas
and reside at one place where they lecture on various religious subjects during paryushana. This festival is believed to remove accumulated karma of the previous year and develop control over new accumulating new karma, by following Jain austerities and other rituals. There are regular rituals at the Jain temples. Discourses of
Kalpa Sutra
are given by monks.
Kalpa Sutra
describes life of
Mahavira
and other
Tirthankaras
. On the third day, procession of Kalpa Sutra is carried out. On the fifth day, auspicious dreams of
Trishala
, mother of Mahavira are demonstrated and after that birth of
Mahavira
is celebrated. The tenth day of festival is called Anant Chaturdashi. Anant Chaturdashi is the day when Lord
Vasupujya
attained moksha (nirvan). Usually, a procession is taken out by Jains on this day. Kshamavani is generally observed a day after Anant Chaturdashi by digambaras, while the shwetambaras observe it after the 8th ie the last day of their paryushan.(last day is called samvatsari)
On Kshamavani, Jains ask for forgiveness from everybody for any acts during the previous year which may have hurt them.
Janma kalayanak
[
edit
]
Om Hrim Siddhi Chakra used by Jains in dravya puja
Mahavira
was born on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the
Jain calendar
month of Chaitra, probably 599 BCE. It falls in March or April. This festival marks the birth of lord Mahavira (last, 24th tirtankara). Procession is carried out and lectures on the message of
Mahavira
are presented. The idols of Mahavira are ceremonially bathed and rocked in a
cradle
. Events related to birth are also recited from sacred texts by monks.
[1]
Ashtahnika Parv
[
edit
]
This is a Jain festival celebrated for eight days three times a year in the months of Kartik, Falgun and Ashdah. It is celebrated from eighth day of Shukla Paksh (Waxing moon Cycle) till Purnima/Guru Purnima every year.
Nandishwar Ashtahnika
[
edit
]
The Nandishwara island is surrounded by three mountain ranges called the Anjana mountain, the Dadhimukha mountain, and the Ratikara mountain. Since human beings are unable to go to Nandishwar dweep they worship in temples. Jains Perform Special Pooja, SiddhChakra Vidhan, Nandishwar Vidhan and Mandal Vidhan.
The word Ashta meaning eight and Aanika meaning every day. When the festival falls in the months of Aashad and Phalguna, then the ritual is known as Nandishwar Ashtahnika. This ritual helps to gain greater spiritual insight, and wisdom. The observance of this ritual brings wish fulfilment for the devotees.
Diwali
[
edit
]
Diwali is one of the most important festival in
India
. Mahavir attained
nirvana
followed by
moksha
on this day in 527 BCE. It falls on the last day of Ashvina month of
Jain calendar
. It is also the last day of
Indian calendar
. It comes during October or November. It is believed that the eighteen kings of northern India, followers of
Mahavira
, decided to light lamps (known as
dipa
) symbolizing knowledge of
Mahavira
. So it is known as Deepavali or Diwali. Jains are forbidden to burst crackers.
[3]
On Diwali morning, Nirvan Ladoo is offered after praying to Lord Mahavira in all Jain temples all across the world. Gautam Gandhar Swami, the chief disciple of Lord Mahavira achieved omniscience (Kevala Gyan) later the same day.
New Year
[
edit
]
After celebrating Diwali at the end of Ashwina, Jains celebrate new year on the first day of the following month of
Kartika
. Ritual of
Snatra Puja
is performed at the temple.
Mahavira
's chief disciple
Gautama Swami
attained
keval gyan
on this day.
[4]
Gyana Panchami
[
edit
]
The fifth day of Kartika is known as Gyana Panchami. It is considered knowledge day. On this day holy scriptures are displayed and worshipped. On this day, people sometimes bow down to books and pencils
Pausha Dashmi
[
edit
]
It is celebrated on 10th day of dark half of Pausha (Pushya) month of
Jain calendar
(December/January). It marks
Janma Kalyanaka
(Birth) of 23rd
Tirthankara
,
Parshvanath
. Three days fast known as
Attham
is observed by many Jains.
Gommateshvara
Bahubali
,
Mahamastakabhisheka
festival, 2006
Maun agiyaras
[
edit
]
Maun Agiyaras or Ekadashi marks
Kalyanaka
of many
Tirthankaras
. It is celebrated on 11th day of Magshar month of
Jain calendar
(October/November). On this day, complete silence is observed and fasting is kept. Meditation is also performed.
Navapad Oli
[
edit
]
The nine-day
Oli
is a period of semi-fasting. During these period Jains take only one meal a day of food without ghee etc., oils, or any kind of spices. It comes twice a year during March/April and September/October.
Mahamastakabhisheka
[
edit
]
Mahamastakabhisheka
is a festival held once every twelve years in the town of
Shravanabelagola
,
Karnataka
. It is held in veneration of an immense 18 meter high statue of
Bahubali
. The last anointing took place in February 2018, and the next ceremony will occur in 2030.
[5]
Roth Teej
[
edit
]
Roth Teej is celebrated on Bhadrapada Shukla Tritiya. On Roth Teej, the Jains are supposed to eat only one type of grain food, roth, once during the day. The festival is a reminder that material wealth is not important, only relinquishment leads to true happiness.
Varshi Tapa or Akshay Tritiya Tapa
[
edit
]
King Shreyansa giving
ahara
to Rishabha
Akshaya Tritiya is celebrated to commemorate Lord Adinath's ending of one-year fast by consuming sugarcane juice poured into his cupped hands.
The first Jain
Tirthankara
Lord
Rishabhdev
completed of an austerity on 3rd day of the bright fortnight of Vaishakh month of
Jain calendar
after fasting for 13 months and 13 days continuously. People who performed austerity known as
Varshi tapa
regarding these event complete the austerity on this day by taking sugar-cane juice.
[1]
Shrut Panchami
[
edit
]
Shrut Panchami is celebrated by Jains every year in the month of May commemorating Acharya Pushpadanta and
Bhutabali
.
Posh Dashmi
[
edit
]
Posh Dashmi is the festival to celebrate the life of
Parshvanatha
.
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
Citations
[
edit
]
Sources
[
edit
]
- Cort, John E. (2001a),
Jains in the World : Religious Values and Ideology in India
, Oxford University Press,
ISBN
978-0-19-513234-2
- Dundas, Paul
(2002) [1992],
The Jains
(Second ed.),
Routledge
,
ISBN
0-415-26606-8
- Shah, Natubhai (1998),
Jainism: The World of Conquerors
, vol. 1, Sussex Academic Press, pp. 169?218,
ISBN
9781898723301
- Jaini, Padmanabh S. (1998),
The Jaina Path of Purification
, Motilal Banarsidass, pp. 188?240,
ISBN
9788120815780
- Holt, James D.
(2019),
Beyond the Big Six Religions
,
University of Chester
,
ISBN
9781908258984