Supreme Court allows to open three Jain Temples
An appeal in the Supreme Court was made by Shri Parshwatilak Shwetamber Murtipujak Tapagacch Jain Trust to keep temples at Dadar, Byculla and Chembur in Mumbai for Paryushan festival. The news that the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Sharad A Bode said, it was strange that the state governments were opening up activities involving economic interests but were citing the Covid-19 pandemic when it came to religious activities.
And the court made it clear that its order to allow Jain worshippers access to the specific Jain temples in Mumbai did not, by default, extend to other temples, trusts and other faiths. The court said its permission would not act as a precedent for allowing Ganesh Chathurti.
The latest verdict by the Supreme Court brought into focus the less talked about Jain festival called Paryushan. What this Paryushan all about?
Jain Festival of Spiritual Awareness
Paryushan Parva is the king of all festivals for the whole Jain community living across the globe. Thus, it is also known as Parva Dhiraj. Every Jain tries to follow the basic principles of Jainism during this festival, which are, right knowledge, right faith and right conduct.
These are the three most essentials for attaining liberation and Nirvana. We can easily understand the word Paryushan by breaking it into two parts: Pari means to recollect yourself and Vasan means at a place; Overall it means to know yourself or recollect yourself at a place in your spirit.
Paryushan is the time for making up and cleaning the dirt, which is in the form of karma collected on our soul. The festival stands for the celebration of spiritual awareness and is one of the most important annual festivals of Jain religion. The festival lasts eight days. Every year this festival of Paryushan starts on Shravan Vad 12th or 13th and ends on Bhadarva sud 4th or 5th (late August – September).
Paryushan Celebrations
This festival gives everyone a chance for self-analysis and deep introspection. It also reminds us that life’s eventual and main aim is not the pursuit of materialism but to attain the state of Nirvana. Paryushan stands for some of the most important practices like:
· Nonviolence (Ahimsa)
· Engaging in self-discipline (Sanyam)
· Partial or complete fasting Penance (Tapah)
· Study of Scriptures (Swadhyaya)
· Introspection (Pratikraman)
· Repentance (Prayaschitta)
During Paryushan, Jains study religious books and scriptures which are based on principles of Jainism. Pratikraman is also performed by many Jains during the festival.
The word Pratikraman is made from the combination of two words, Pra meaning return and atikraman meaning violation. Literally, it means returning from the violations.
During the Paryushan days, below mentioned are the five essential things Jains try and observe:-
Sadharmik Vatsalya: It means the welfare of the other fellow Jainis.
Amari Pravartan: Following ahimsa or non-violence is also one of the major aspects of this festival.
Atama Tap: Fasting for days is also considered as one of the major aspects. People also practice ayambils which means one meal of tasteless food, during the whole day. Other forms of taps are Ekashana meaning eating only once a day; and Byasana meaning eating twice a day.
Chaitya Paripati: It involves daily visits to temples, pilgrimage to holy places, paying respect and devotion to the Lord Mahavira through worship, prayers, and meditation.
Kshamapana: It is one of the most significant parts of celebrating this festival. Kshamapana means forgiveness. It involves asking for forgiveness from all the people whom we may have hurt in the past or present life. It also includes forgiving those who have hurt us and forgive them for their shortcomings and weaknesses.
Samvatsari: The last day of this 8-day long festival is Samvatsari, and it is the most important of all. Most Jains try to have a fast and get together to perform the Pratikraman. This is also the day where everyone asks to ‘Forgive and Forget’ – Tass Micchami Dukkaam.
True Meaning of Paryushan
Paryushan is not just a festival to rejoice and celebrate; instead, it is a ‘parva’ in which all Jains try to discipline themselves. People try to live with the utmost simplicity and try to purify everything, from food to clothes and thoughts to deeds.
Jainis don’t eat underground beets and roots. Meals are avoided after sunset. People also do Vaas and Upwasa to purify their souls and body.
Unfortunately, the bad news is this festival of purity is nowadays taken as a burden by new generations. They only take it as a burden when they have to follow many regulations.
They do not understand the foundation behind observing this festival. Still, the gurus and masters are trying to rebuild the faith in the religion like it was used to be in the older days.
@religionworldin
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