is very common among Jains and as a part of festivals. Most Jains fast at special times, during festivals, and on holy days. Paryushan is the most prominent festival, lasting eight days in Svetambara Jain tradition and ten days in Digambar Jain tradition during the monsoon. The monsoon is a time of fasting. However, a Jain may fast at any time, especially if they feel some error has been committed. Variations in fasts encourage Jains to do whatever they can to maintain whatever self control is possible for the individual. According to Jain texts, abstaining from the pleasures of the five senses such as sounds and dwelling in the selfin deep concentration is fasting.
Aims for fasting
Fasting can be done to purify both the body and the mind but fasts are also done as a penance.
Proşadhopavāsa
The word Proşadha refers to the holy days in the lunar month. It means giving up the four kinds of food. Proşadhopavāsa is fasting on the eighth and fourteenth days of the lunar cycle. According to Jain text, Puruşārthasiddhyupāya: The person fasting discards bodily adornments such as bath, perfume, garlands, and ornaments, and spends their time in a sacred place such as the abode of a saint or a temple, or somewhere on their own contemplating pure thoughts by listening to scripture.
Types of fasting
There are several types of fasts:
Upvas: To give up only food for the whole day: starting from previous sunset to 2nd day sunrise, and so approximately 36 hours.
Chauvihar: No food or water after sunset until at least Navkarsi next day. Many Jains practise this daily. Many Jains leave food or water before forty-eight minutes of sunset.
Partial fasting : Eating less than you desire and to simply avoid hunger.
Vruti Sankshep: Limiting the number of items eaten.
Aathai: No food for constant 8 days, only boiled water.
Navai: No food for constant 9 days, only boiled water.
Solbhathu: No food for constant 16 days, only boiled water.
Great fasts are fasts for months at a time. Maaskhaman: To give up food and water or only food continuously for a whole month.
Varshitap is Upwas, fasting for 36 hours, on alternate days for 13 lunar months and 13 days continuously. In Varshitap a person eats on alternate days between sunrise and sunset only. A person can not eat on any two consecutive days for the period of fast but can fast on two consecutive days.
Sallekhana
Sallekhanā is the last vow prescribed by the Jain ethical code of conduct. The vow of sallekhanā is observed by the Jain ascetics and lay votaries at the end of their life by gradually reducing the intake of food and liquids. This practice has been subject to ongoing debate by human rightsexperts.
