Coming Together To Forgive And Heal

DHANPAL JAIN

Paryushan is the most important annual Jain observance. For both Shvetambars, who observe the festival over a period of eight days, and Digambars, for whom Paryushan Parva lasts 10 days, this is a time of intensive study, reflection and purification. It takes place in the middle of the rainy season, a time when Jain monks and nuns cease travelling and stay with a community and are available to them for instruction and guidance.

Paryushan means "abiding" or "coming together". It is also a time when the laity takes on vows of study and fasting with a spiritual intensity similar to (temporary) monasticism. Paryushan concludes with confession and forgiveness for the transgressions of the previous year.

The most important part of Paryushan is daily meditation and prayer, which provides an opportunity for looking within and towards the teachings of the Tirthankaras for guidance. Beginning on the fourth day of Paryushan, it is customary for Murtipujak Shvetambars to read from the Kalpa Sutra, a scripture which recounts the life of Mahavira the 14 dreams of his mother before his birth, followed by the story of his birth, life and liberation. It also recounts the lives of other Tirthankaras and the rules of Paryushan. Among Mahavira's teachings are those that advocate gender equity, of the importance of ensuring equal status to both women and men.
The book of scripture would be carried ceremonially through the streets, water sprinkled in its path along the way, purifying the entire town. Jains often take time off from work during this period and eat a much simpler diet than their usual vegetarian diet. Jains avoid eating root vegetables like potatoes, onions and garlic as harvesting them for food would entail destroying the entire plant.

For Shvetambars, the final day of Paryushan is Samvastsari Pratikraman, the annual confession. The ritual of asking forgiveness from the teacher is widened in scope to include family and friends and, finally, all living beings. The culmination of confession is receiving forgiveness from all living beings and also granting forgiveness to all. This ritual of forgiveness is sometimes called the rite of "universal friendship". The spirit of the day is contained in this verse: "I grant forgiveness to all living beings, May all living beings grant me forgiveness; My friendship is with all living beings, My enmity is totally non-existent. Let there be peace, harmony and prosperity for all."

One cannot consume any fruits or even a grain during the fasting period or upvaas, informs Nun Mallipragya. Wouldn't it be difficult to remain without eating any food? Divya Mehta, who has fasted for 31 days at a stretch, says: "We live in a sea of energy. Our bodies gain energy indirectly from the food we eat, while we gain direct energy from the cosmic energy that flows into us through the medulla oblongata at the bottom of the brain. But this kind of acceptance of energy depends upon our mental set-up. The greater the will, the greater would be the flow of energy."

Penance is given high importance to purify one's soul. In the time cycle, Lord Rishabh started the penance for one year at a stretch. The same tradition is followed even today. During the process of penance, all the accumulated toxins in the cells of the body over a period of time start to melt away. Since the body's energies are concentrated in cleaning and detoxification during the fasting process, rest becomes a necessary adjunct. The body parts are recharged and relaxed. This minimises physical ailments, increases strength and keeps body, mind and the hormonal balance in tact.

The writer is a law student at the University of Mumbai.

Fasting Jains to aid of jawans

Radha Sharma

AHMEDABAD: They survive without food for over two weeks, living only on boiled water. And, they may hold answers to quests other than spiritual. So thinks the Indian Army, which has made the rigorous fasting by Jains during the holy period of Paryushan a subject of focused study to find solution for the Indian soldier who has to face harsh situations in adverse climes.

With Paryushan on right now, a team of 18 scientists from the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS) are camping in the city to seek answers: How does the body and mind of the fasting Jain react to such nutritional deprivation for days? Can fasting be consciously imbibed by people, especially soldiers and astronauts, for survival in challenging situations? Scientists are studying about 45 Jains in Ahmedabad who have undertaken fasting ranging from three to eight days. Some are also fasting for 16 days. Children, youth in their 20s who have never fasted and religious Jains used to fasting annually are part of this voluntary study project being undertaken at Ramnagar Mota Derasar in Sabarmati area. “The project began on August 8 and the last batch would complete their fasting on Sunday.

The test reports of chemical, physiological and the psychological testing of the volunteers before, during and after the fast period would be documented and analysed,” said neuro-physician Dr Sudhir Shah, whose team had pioneered medical documentation of long-term fasting by medically profiling Prahlad Jani, an octogenarian sadhu, who claims to live without drinking and eating and thus not pass urine or stool as well. “We documented him for 10 days under CCTV cameras. His case features in the book titled ‘Mysteries of the World’,” said Dr Shah.

The project will study parameters, including brain blood flow, sensory activity, oxygen consumption, blood pressure, ECG monitoring and cholesterol and lipid profiles. “The results of this study may help the Indian soldier who go through great adversities, having to stay in areas where food is not available. It can also be applied in prevention and treatment of lifestyle diseases like diabetes and heart diseases,” Dr Shah said.