Avoid Vigay

Paryushan Mahaparva is an opportunity to conquer all your senses and needs. We need food to survive. It is a basic need. But have we let this need remain basic after all? We consume so many varieties of food owing to our sense of taste. We desire to eat food that is tasty, spicy, or of a certain flavour and texture. We have surpassed the phase where food was just a basic need, which was consumed mainly to provide fuel for the proper functioning of our body. It is more about tasty food than just consuming food for basic survival needs.

However, during these 8 days of Paryushan, let us avoid a few items that we can easily live without. This Paryushan Parva 2021, let us all give up consumption of milk, ghee, oil, curd, sweets, basically avoid vigays (taste enhancers). It may be difficult to observe Ayambil, but we can gradually start by eliminating some of these items from our daily consumption.

Paryushan Parv – the 8-day Jain Festival of Forgiveness is an occasion to eliminate the impurities that pollute the soul – such as anger, ego, greed, jealousy, deceit, attachment, hatred and much more. It is a period of emotional cleansing and becoming light and relaxed from within.

From a karmic perspective, it is said that during these 8 days, the magnetic frequencies in the entire universe are the highest. As a result, the soul vibrates the most and may even bind the karmas that determine his next birth. And therefore, Jains observe maximum sadhanas, spiritual practices, penance and fasting during these days to make the most of this auspicious period.

Param Gurudev Shree Namramuni Maharaj Saheb profoundly enlists a detailed list of Do’s and Don’ts of what should be done and what we should refrain from doing during these divine days of Paryushan. During these Paryushan days, Jains make an effort to realize, repent and seek forgiveness for mistakes made during the entire year by performing Pratikraman, Alochana fasting, taking small Pachkhan vows, etc. The last day of Paryushan, known as Samvatsari, is the day when everyone performs the annual practice of Samvatsari Pratikraman and says sorry or ‘Michhami Dukadam’ to every living of the universe for having hurt them knowingly or unknowingly through their mind, body and speech.