Jainism
Paryushan Parva ~ Festival Of Self Uplift
Jainism (pronounced /ˈdʒaɪnɪzəm/, also called 'Jain Dharma') is an ancient dharmic religion from India that prescribes a path of non-violence for all forms of living beings in this world. Its philosophy and practice relies mainly on self effort in progressing the soul on the spiritual ladder to divine consciousness. Any soul which has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state of supreme being is called jina (Conqueror or Victor). ~ Taken from Wikipedia
Every day, most Jains bow & say the "Namokara Mantra" ~ see below.
Paryushan Parva
The Festival of Self-Uplift by the Holy Observation of Ten Universal Virtues
Falls in the month ‘Bhadrapad’ of the Hindu calendar; extends from the fifth day to fourteenth day of the bright fortnight.
Paryushana Parva
The holiest period of the year for the ascetic Shvetambara sect, this festival celebrates Jain ideals through fasting, worship, and reading the life-story of Lord Mahavira from the Kalpasutra. Believers impose restraints on their daily activities by fasting, meditation, and prayer. Jain 8 day festival signifying human emergence into a new world of spiritual and moral refinement.
Celebration of the natural qualities of the soul.
During this festival, an attempt is made to put an end to all vices, passions and lustful desires in thought, speech and deeds. According to Sanskrit grammar the underlying idea of the festival and its interpretation is given below:
“Parismantadushayante dhante karmani yasimannasau paryushnm”
Translated: The celebration through which the karmic matter attached to the soul is totally burnt or vanquished (both internally and externally) is known Paryushan i.e., self-purification.
The festival ordains the Jains to observe the ten universal supreme virtues in daily practical life. Besides assuring a blissful existence in this world and the other world for every living being, it aims at the attainment of salvation - the supreme ideal for mundane soul. The non-Jains also express high reverence for this Jain festival.
All members of Jain community- high and low, young and old, and males and females, participate with
full vigor and zeal in the various religious rituals and cultural programs. They listen with rapt attention to the
holy sermons of the saints and learned Jain scholars arranged during the ten-day festival. In these celebrations
lie dormant the seeds of the well being, peace and happiness of the common man.
On the eve of this festival all activities, which add to social discord or bitterness are declared taboo from the temple pulpits. These celebrations harbinger social harmony and amity and preach the lofty Jain motto ‘Live and Let live’.
~ Taken from Jainworld
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