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What is importance of paryushan
Quick Answer
Paryushan is the most important Jain festival dedicated to spiritual purification through fasting, repentance, and self-discipline, culminating in forgiveness and renewal of faith.
Detailed Answer
Paryushan holds paramount importance in Jainism as a time for intense spiritual practice and self-purification. Observed primarily by both the Shvetambara and Digambara sects, it spans 8 to 10 days during which devotees undertake fasting (upvas, ayambil, chauvihar), perform Chaumasi Pratikraman (a four-monthly ritual of repentance), engage in daily discourses, swadhyaya (scriptural study), intensified charity (daan), and heightened compassion towards all living beings (jiv-daya). The festival culminates in the celebration of forgiveness (Samvatsari), where Jains seek and grant forgiveness to cleanse karmic debts and renew their spiritual commitment. Paryushan also coincides with the Das Lakshana Parva, emphasizing the ten virtues essential for liberation. Pilgrimage activities pause during this period to focus on inner purification. Thus, Paryushan is a vital occasion for Jains to deepen their adherence to ahimsa (non-violence), truth, and austerity, reinforcing the core tenets of Jain dharma and fostering communal harmony and spiritual upliftment.
Related: Paryushan Parva 2026: Dates, Meaning and How It Is Observed · What is importance of Mahavir Jayanti during Paryushan
Source References
This answer is generated by JainGPT and grounded in primary Jain scriptures, commentaries and scholarly texts from our digitised library. See the cited references below and our editorial standards.
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