Paryushana
Mahavir Janam Kalyanalk
Jain Diwali
Das Lakshan
Akshaya Tritya
Paryushana is an annual holy event for Jains and is usually celebrated in August or September in Hindi calendar (indian calendar) Bhadrapad Month's Shukla Paksha.Jains increase their level of spiritual intensity often using fasting and prayer/meditation to help. The five main vowsare emphasized during this time.There are no set rules, and followers are encouraged to practice according to their ability and desires.
Normally,Śvētāmbaras refer to it as Paryushana. The duration of Paryushana is for 8 days for Jains. The festival ends with the celebration of Samvatsari (forgiveness day).
Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is one of the most important religious festivals in Jainism. It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara (supreme preacher) of present Avasarpiṇī.On the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April.
According to Jain texts, Mahavira was born on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra in the year 599 BCE (Chaitra Sud 13).Bhagwan Mahaveer was born in Kshatriyakund of Bihar. Some modern historians consider Kundagram (which is today's Kundalpur in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar) as his birthplace. Mahavira was born in a democratic kingdom (Ganarajya), Vajji, where the king was chosen by votes. Vaishali was its capital.Mahavira was named 'Vardhaman', meaning "One who grows", because of the increased prosperity in the kingdom at the time of his birth.In Vasokund, Mahavira is revered by the villagers. A place called Ahalya bhumi has not been ploughed for hundreds of years by the family that owns it, as it is considered to be the birthplace of Mahavira
The idol of Mahavira is carried out on a chariot, in a procession called rath yatra.On the way stavans (religious rhymes) are recited.Statues of Mahavira are given a ceremonial anointment called the abhisheka. During the day, most members of the Jain community engage in some sort of charitable act, prayers, pujas, and vratas. Many devotees visit temples dedicated to Mahavira to meditate and offer prayers.Lectures by monks and nuns are held in temples to preach the path of virtue as defined by Jainism. Donations are collected in order to promote charitable missions like saving cows from slaughter or helping to feed poor people. Ancient Jain temples across India typically see an extremely high volume of practitioners come to pay their respects and join in the celebrations.[Ahimsa runs and rallies preaching Mahavira's message of Ahiṃsā (non-violence) are taken out on this day
Diwali in Jainism marks the anniversary of Nirvana (final release) or liberation of Mahavira's soul, the twenty-fourth and last Jain Tirthankaraof the present cosmic age. It is celebrated at the same time as the Hindu festival of Diwali. Diwali marks the end of the year for Jains, and it likewise commemorates the passing of their twenty-fourth Tirthankara Mahavira and his achievement of moksha.
Mahavira attained Moksha (liberation) on this day at Pawapuri on 15 October 527 BCE, on Chaturdashi of Kartika, as confirmed by Tilyapannatti of Yativrsabha.
Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of this era, revitalised Jain dharma. According to tradition, the chief disciple of Mahavira, Ganadhara Gautam Swami also attained omniscience i.e. absolute or complete knowledge (Kevala Jñāna) on this day, thus making Diwali one of the most important Jain festivals.Mahavira attained his nirvana at the dawn of the amavasya (new moon).
On Diwali morning, Nirvan Ladoo is offered after praying to Lord Mahavira in all Jain temples across the world.The most important principle of Jains is Ahimsa or non violence, thus they tend to avoid firecrackers during Diwali as they cause harm to living organisms. Diwali is celebrated in atmosphere of austerity, simplicity, serenity, equity, calmness, charity, philanthropy and environment-consciousness. Jain temples, homes, offices, and shops are decorated with lights and diyas. Relatives distribute sweets to each other. The lights are symbolic of knowledge or removal of ignorance. Swetambar Jains observe two days of fasting in remembrance of the penance and sacrifice of Mahavira. In temples and homes, devotees sing and chant hymns and mantras from Jain religious texts in praise of the Tirthankar and congregate for a prayer and recite verses from the Uttaradhyayan Sutra which contain the last teachings of Mahavira. Jains pay visit to Pawapuri, Nalanda in Bihar on this special day to offer their prayers. The Jain year starts with Pratipada, next day of Diwali.
Another longstanding tradition is to purchase new account books or ledgers to bring good luck and prosperity for the new year.
Das Lakshan Parva is the festival celebrated by the Digambara Jains. In the Digambar tradition, the ten cardinal virtues, Dashlakshan Dharma, are celebrated for 10 days, starting on Bhadrapad sud 5-14th to remind Jains of the characteristics of the soul. The ten dharmas or the virtues of the soul are: forgiveness,humility, straightforwardness,contentment,truth,sensual restraint,austerities,charity,non-possessiveness,and celibacy. They are various forms of right conduct. It s important to understand two common viewpoints found in our scriptures. The Vyavahar view, in crude terms, helps you to live more easily and peacefully with the outside world. It also builds up your reserve of good deeds (Punya karmas). The Nischay view helps to enhance and blossom the soul’s natural qualities. In Jainism, the Vyavahar view is always considered the ‘by the by’. The Nischay view is considered to be the most important as it leads to contemplation and understanding of the true nature of the soul with the aim of its purification, the ultimate goal of practicing Das Lakshan. Merely practicing the Vyavahar Dharmas may bind Punya karmas, leading to material gain in this life and the next. The Dharmas are all prefixed by the word ‘Uttam’ (Supreme) to signify that they are practiced at the highest level by the Jain monks. The householder practices them to a lesser extent. It lasts over a period of ten days, each day is dedicated to one of the ten Dharmas.
Akshay Tritya/Akha Teej the day when all Varshitap tapasvi's shall have parana's with Sugarcane Juice after their tap of 400 Days. Lord Rishabhdev did it with 400 Upvas's but has been kind enough on us to provide us a way to do it with Upvas on Alternate days with Biyasna's on other alternate days & Balas (2 Upvas's) in between when upvas days are followed by Tithi's so all Varshitap tapasvi's do more than 220 Upvas's. A story behind the festival in jainism is written in Harinvansh Puran and Padam Puran. The Day of Akshay Tritiya is worshipped and said to be auspicious in Jainism because it is said to have established the very first "AHAR CHARYA" a methodology to prepare and serve food to Jain Monks. Lord Rishabhdev denounced the worldly pleasures after dividing his vast kingdom in his 100 sons. Lord Rishabhadev meditated without any food and water for six months and upon attaining enlightenment (Kevalya Gyan), set out to accept food (Ahar). He was the first monk of this Era. Jain monks do not own anything. They do not even cook food for themselves. When hungry or thirsty, (Maximum Once in day), they set out to accept Ahar. They do not even ask for it and accept where it is offered. Tirthankara Rishabhadev also went to people to accept food. However, the people of that time did not know anything about the lives and disciplines of monks, as he was the first monk of this era. The people of Ayodhya offered him gold, jewellery, gemstones, elephants, horses, expensive garments and even their daughters to honor their beloved king. Rishabhadev was not in quest of all these. He sought only a morsel of food, but nobody offered it to him. Nobody understood that their king was looking for to receive food to ensure that the monks that would come after him get food and water in the purest form needed to lead an ascetic life. As there was no choice, he had to fast for a long time of one year until his grandson Shreyansha Kumar understood his need due to his "Purva-Bhava-Smaran" i.e. In the previous birth, Rishabhadev had tied a net on the face of a cow and he did the sin of starving the cow, so the previous Karma was the cause of this incident. With the help of Jati-Smarana Gyan, (the knowledge that opens up memories of the past births). Finally, Shreyansha Kumar know that lord Rishabhadev wanted food to eat. So he gave him the juice of Sugarcane and Rishabhadev broke his fasts of 400 days. This day is known as Akshay Trutiya from that time. This is considered by the Jains as one of the best offerings. It is believed that religious gifts bestowed on Akshaya Tritiya become inexhaustible. Jains even today, observe a fast to commemorate their first Tirthankara Rishabhadev on Akshaya Tritiya and end their fast with sugarcane juice.