Paryushan - Festival of Soul Purification

Do we know the existence of the soul and do we realize it? It is very difficult, but the Jain Philosophy explains it with various scientific principles and pragmatic approach. “Paryushan” is the festival of Jain religion to achieve the ultimate aim of Moksha. During these 8 days, every Jain follows the principles and philosophy of Tapasya, Tyag and Samarpan; and recites the Aagams which are nothing but the last recorded recitations of Lord Mahavir. Especially in these 8 days, the Antagadh Sutra explains how 90 souls achieved Moksha.

Let me introduce you to a community named “Jain Community”. If you know something about Jain culture, then surely you would have heard a term “Chaturmas” and one of the most famous festivals of Jain Community “Paryushan Parv”. Philosophically, always remember that nothing can happen without any reason in this world. Then what is the reason behind this Chaturmas and Paryushan Parv? Why every Jain person takes a leave on the last day of Paryushan Parv known as “Samvatsari”? Instead of any outing on that day, they spend their whole day with their community doing Dharma Aaradhna.

According to the Jain Philosophy, there are 2 kaals (cycles of time), one is known as “Avsarpini Kaal” and another one is “Utsarpini Kaal”. Both cycles of time have 6 parts known as “Aara”. In the second aara of Utsarpini Kaal, there will be 5 weeks of rain that can change the whole environment. Let’s see, how? One aara is about 21000 years. After every Avsarpini Kaal, Utsarpini Kaal comes and after every Utsarpini Kaal, Avsarpini Kaal comes. As Jain religion says, “In Avsarpini Kaal, the size of people, their age, their living manner, prosperities etc. reduce aara by aara with time. So in the first aara of Avsarpini Kaal, people were very happy and they had all the prosperities but in a reducing manner, in the sixth aara, their lifestyle is quite difficult, even their lives become a question to them. Until the end of the sixth aara, the land becomes infertile; there is no any sign of nature. But when Utsarpini Kaal (Time to rebuild the world, to redevelop) comes. Aara by aara the lifestyle becomes good. But still the land is infertile; there is no any sign of nature. Then how will people survive? So, in the second aara of Utsarpini Kaal, a continuous rain starts on Shravan Krishna Pratipada and will end on Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami. This time period is covered with 5 weeks of rain and 2 weeks of sunshine. 'Pushkar' cloud pours rain in the first week to overcome earth's scorching. Then one week for sunshine. In third week, 'Kshir' cloud pours rain to deodorize the earth. Now 'Grit' cloud pours rain to bring aliphaticality (snigdhta) to the earth. 'Amrit' cloud pours rain to rebuild the vegetation. Again the time for sunshine and in the last 'Ikh' cloud pours rain like the juice of cane sugar to produce sweet, bitter, pungent and acid in plants. After these 7 weeks, the land becomes fertile; and the nature regenerates. 7 x 7 = 49 days. That’s why the 49^th or 50^th day is for celebration.” This is how Paryushan Parv founded. The starting day of rain is known as Chaturmas Sthapna and the last week of these 7 weeks is celebrated as Paryushan Parv. Samvatsari is the 49^th or 50^th day and is celebrated as the most famous festival in the Jain community. Since in the sixth aara of Avsarpini Kaal, there was nothing to eat except insects or small animals. So people used to eat them. After the change in the environment, they have everything to eat; they didn’t have any need to eat insects or small animals. So people decided not to eat insects and animals. From that day, Samvatsari and one day after that are also celebrated as an apology day. Every Jain apologizes for his known and unknown actions which had hurt anybody (any person or living things). So, this day is known as “Kshamayachna Divas”.

Can you ever imagine fasting for 30 or 40 days without any food? Or will you ever imagine your food without any green fruit and root vegetables for 8 consecutive days? Some of you might do this with a strong determination. I just want to give you a simple example. Have you ever seen an 8-year-old child who has not taken anything to eat for 3 days???? The Jain philosophy explains how to control over senses and do fasting for a long time. Even small age children like an 8-year-old child who can perform continuous fast for several days. There is a recent example of a girl from Jawahar Nagar, Goregaon West, Mumbai; a girl of 10 years age who had fast for 30 days.

Thus, all things teach a person “Ahimsa”. This all is real devotion and dedication of people. And no doubt this atmosphere and devoutness make every person able to know how the good deeds and bad deeds affect the soul.

Thank you so much for your read!
I sincerely apologize through this forum for my words, deeds and actions by which you ever got hurt. Please forgive me. "Michchami Dukdam!"
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A Group @ Your Doorstep

         You are busy with your own stuff at your home and suddenly the doorbell rings. When you open the door, a group of some teenagers are there at your doorstep. One of them comes in front and tells you that “We are from this place or this college. And we want some time of yours to know your lifestyle, your culture and much more.” Will we ever allow an unknown person in our home or will we ever allow a group of unknown teenagers in our home? Obviously, most of the people will reply ‘No’. We won't allow them. We don't have the time to waste by talking to someone. I am not saying that everyone will refuse, some people might like to talk to them. Now tell me honestly what will a majority of you do?

            Let me take you to Karnala, about 10 km away from Panvel City.

Some days ago, me and my friends, a group of teenagers went to Tara and Koral Villages in Karnala to understand the dynamics of rural life. We visited some of the houses and spoke to a few villagers. There was little resistance and they spoke to us nicely; even in a short time, they told us a lot about themselves. Why? Why were they so happy to talk to us? Did they know us? Did they not have any work? Why were they wasting their time with a group of unknown teenagers? Not a single person told us about their problems. Why? I am sure these questions are coming to your mind at this time. I have the answers to all these questions. For starters, let us go through a small journey to that place.

Far away from the shrill noise, stress, and busy life; life here is quite simple and interesting. When you have a Human Loving Environment with Lovely Villagers, then what you want to do is live a simple life. Houses made of Cow Dung, Bricks and Mud; Floor made of Cow Dung; Fresh Air; all these things made me more curious to know about these villages. They don’t have as many facilities as us. Most of them have 'Kachcha' Houses. Hand constructed Tenon puts more taste in a dish in comparison to the gas cylinders. Handmade bread with a base of Rice or Nachni is their food for survival. Their main occupation is Agriculture. They grow Wal (A Pulse) Rice, Black Eyed Beans and Country Cucumber mostly. They celebrate Holi, Janmashtami, Peethor festivals; the last one being the most important. They collect the forest products, decorate them and celebrate this festival on a specific New Moon Day. On this day, they make rangolis, serve food to the crows and only when the crows have eaten the food, do they eat their food.

A slightly developed village placed along the Kanyakumari-Panvel Highway is the Tara village in Karnala. Most of the people here are from the Agri Community. Here in the village, they don’t have any police station, but police co-operation is praiseworthy. They have only one Doctor among 150 families in the entire village. This village has some 'Pakka' Houses and People here are educated. The literacy level in this village are not very high but yes it’s appreciable as this is a Village, not a City. They have Electricity Problems. 8 hours of continuous load shedding is common here. If you are thinking that the government has made all these provisions for this village then let me tell you that all these facilities which Tara Village has are not from Govt. Scheme, but a centre named “Tara Centre” that provides funds and loans for education and helps the villagers to facilitate development.

After a few kilometres of mountain trekking, we reached a village named Koral with a majority of the Adivasi Community. For each and every thing they want (like basic necessities), they have to go to a nearby village which is a tiresome walk of approx 1 hour and has a rough road. They use well water through the year but summers are quite difficult for them. Most of them haven’t completed their primary education. Men are literate here, but women aren’t. They also practice animal husbandry and the main animals are Goats. This village is surrounded by Forests from all the sides. There is a forest officer, who allows the villagers to chop only Barren Trees. Chopping down healthy trees is banned. This village has 24 hours electricity except for Tuesday. This village often suffers from frequent flooding problems; no real drainage system is available here. Even their Panchayat is in a neighbouring village named Apta. About 30 families of this village are really in hope of a light for some change.

   Lastly I wish to tell you two most important things of these villages:

1.  1. Alcohol is strictly banned in both villages. Tara village has strict rules regarding this since the past 35 years whereas Koral village has adopted this a few years ago.

2. There is no any gender discrimination between boys and girls. No special demand for a male child either.

These two things make these villages proud.

         

          This was a small and humble effort from my side to show a different culture from ours, to show how people live without so many facilities, to understand their lifestyle. I hope that you all liked this journey with me. It’s my humble request to you, please share your views about my blog whatever it is positive or negative. For me, your views are very necessary to improve myself to show different scenarios of Indian Culture.

          Thank you so much for this read!

Pictures Credit:- Nishant Rathod

(Note: Have you experienced anything like this? If yes, then feel free to share with me. I assure you that I will try my best to showcase your story.)