The story behind the day
Paryuṣaṇa is the Jain festival of penitence and forgiveness, the high point of the Jain year. Śvetāmbara Jains keep it for eight days in August or September, ending on the day called Saṃvatsarī, when they ask forgiveness of everyone. Digambara Jains keep a ten-day festival called Daśalakṣaṇa that begins as the Śvetāmbara days end. This calendar places the Śvetāmbara Saṃvatsarī on the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Bhādrapada, and a day later for groups who keep it then; Daśalakṣaṇa begins on the fifth.[1–4]
Origins
The name Paryuṣaṇa is said to mean staying in one place, and it falls in the rainy-season retreat of the monks and nuns, the four months in which they do not wander. The Śvetāmbara Kalpa Sūtra, the most important canonical text of that tradition, is traditionally recited at this time. It contains a biography of Mahāvīra and rules of discipline for ascetics. The Digambaras, who do not accept that text, keep a separate ten-day observance, described below. For the Śvetāmbaras these days are the peak of the ritual year, and the Kalpa Sūtra is the text at its centre.[4–8]
What it marks
For Jains it is a time to repent, to confess, and to make good what was left undone in the year, and, in the words of one reference work, a time for reflection and meditation. JAINA describes the festivals of Paryushan and Das Lakshan as festivals that honour the soul's qualities and essence. Fasting is part of it, and most Jains fast in some form during these days. The last day, Saṃvatsarī, is called the most important day of the year, when Jains seek forgiveness from all beings.[2, 4, 9–11]
How it is kept
Monks recite the Kalpa Sūtra, and illustrations from copies of it are displayed. On Saṃvatsarī Jains perform the yearly pratikramaṇa, the rite of confession and of asking pardon, and they express repentance and ask forgiveness for any injury done in the past year. Many write to friends and associates asking pardon for wrongs they may have done. Old quarrels are set aside and friendships renewed.[2, 12–14]
Across traditions
The Digambaras do not accept the Kalpa Sūtra as authoritative. They keep Daśalakṣaṇa for ten days, with a daily discourse on one of the ten virtues and readings from the ten chapters of Umāsvāti's Tattvārtha Sūtra, and the festival starts as Paryuṣaṇa ends. This calendar gives both Śvetāmbara reckonings of the last day, the fourth day of the bright half of Bhādrapada and, for groups who keep it a day later, the fifth.[3, 5]
Sources
Each statement above was checked against published sources; the verdict says whether it stood as written, was corrected or was hedged.
- VerifiedEncyclopedia of Religion, Jainism, P. Dundas, via Encyclopedia.com; JAINA, Paryushan Parv / Das Lakshan Resources.
- VerifiedDundas via Encyclopedia.com; JAINA, Paryushan Day 8.
- VerifiedBowker via Encyclopedia.com; JAINA, Scriptural meaning.
- VerifiedDundas via Encyclopedia.com; JAINA, Paryushan Day 8.
- VerifiedDundas via Encyclopedia.com; JAINA, Scriptural meaning.
- VerifiedGale, Jainism, via Encyclopedia.com; V&A, Kalpasutra; JAINA, Scriptural meaning.
- VerifiedV&A, Kalpasutra page; Dundas via Encyclopedia.com.
- VerifiedDundas via Encyclopedia.com; V&A, Kalpasutra.
- VerifiedConcise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions; JAINA, Paryushan Day 8.
- VerifiedGale, Jainism, via Encyclopedia.com; jaina.org.
- VerifiedWorldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices, Jainism, via Encyclopedia.com; jaina.org.
- VerifiedDundas via Encyclopedia.com; V&A, Kalpasutra; jaina.org.
- VerifiedWorldmark, Jainism, via Encyclopedia.com; jaina.org.
- Verifiedjaina.org; Worldmark, Jainism, via Encyclopedia.com.