Samvatsari parva

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In news– The Prime Minister has greeted the people on the occasion of Samvatsari.

About Samvatsari parva-

• It is the last day of the Paryushan Parv festival of the Shwetambar sect of the Jain community.
• It falls on Shukla Panchami each year in the Jain calendar month of Bhadrapada, somewhere between the middle of August and September in the Gregorian calendar.
• A yearly, elaborate penitential retreat called “samvatsari pratikramana” is performed on this day. 
• After the pratikramana, Jains seek forgiveness from all the creatures of the world, including friends and relatives by uttering the phrase — Micchami Dukkadam or its variants like “Khamau Sa”, “Uttam Kshama” or “Khamat Khamna”.
• While Samvatsari and kshamavani are typically associated with Shwetambar sect and Digambara respectively, there is no major difference between the two days and both are observed as Forgiveness Days.
• As a result, while Samvatsari is observed on Shukla Panchami of Bhadrapada month by the Shwetambars, the Digambaras celebrate it on the first day of Ashvin Krishna month of the lunar-based Jain calendar.

About Paryushan parva-

• It is the most important annual holy event for Jains and is usually celebrated in August or September. 
• During this festival, Jains increase their level of spiritual intensity often using fasting and prayer/meditation to help.
• The five main vows are emphasized during this time.
• Normally, Digambaras refer to it as Das Lakshana Dharma while Śvētāmbaras refer to it as Paryushana (“abiding” or “coming together”). 
• The duration of Paryushana is for 8 days for Śvētāmbara Jains and 10 days for Jains belonging to the Digambara sect. 
• The festival ends with the celebration of Samvatsari or Kshamavani (forgiveness day).
• The Digambaras celebrate Ananta- chaturdashi on the chaturdashi, special worship is done on this day.
• During the 8-day festival, the Kalpa Sutra is recited in the Shwetmbara sect, that includes a recitation of the section on birth of Lord Mahavira on the fifth day. 
• In the Digambara sect the Tattvartha-sutra of Umaswati is recited. 

Das-Dharma-

Das-Dharma (ten righteous virtues) are mentioned in the Jain text, Tattvartha Sutra. These are:

1. Uttam Kshama (forbearance).  
2. Uttam Mardava (supreme modesty).
3. Uttam Aarjava (straightforwardness). 
4. Uttam Shoch (purity). 
5. Uttam Satya (truth).  
6. Uttam Sanyam (supreme restraint).
7. Uttam Tap (austerity).  
8. Uttam Tyaga (renunciation).
9. Uttam Aakinchanya (non-attachment).  
10. Uttam Brahmcharya (supreme celibacy). 

   In the full form, it is a 10-day vrata that comes every year. It may be undertaken during Shukla Panchami to Chaturdashi of Bhadrapada, Magh or Chaitra months. 

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