Paryushan Parva, Festival of Fasting
The Paryushan Parva is celebrated every year by members of the Jain community for self-purification and uplift by adhering to the 10 universal virtues in practical life. This is meant to lead adherents on the right path, far from the mad strife for material prosperity, which ultimately leads the follower to his true destination salvation.
Jainworld.com
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The Five Vows are: To practise non-violence or ahimsa by bit causing harm to any living being, to always speak the truth that is, follow Satya, to refrain from stealing by not taking anything that is not given willingly, to follow celibacy by avoiding sensual pleasures, and to remain detached and so follow non-possession or aparigraha.
From a Jain blog
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The word ”Paryushan” has several meanings:
1. Pari + ushan = all kinds + to burn = to burn (shed) our all types of karmas. To shed our karmas, we do 12 different types of austerities including fasting.
2. Another meaning of ”ushan” is to stay closer. To stay closer to our own soul from all directions and to stay absorbed in our own-self (soul), we do svadhyaya (self-study), meditation, austerities, etc.
3. Pari + upshamana = upshamana means to overcome, to overcome our passions (kashayas anger, ego, deceit and greed) from all directions.
Purification
In doing good we must sometimes suffer. To find the Lord we must be willing to suffer. What is it to endure discomfort of the flesh and discipline of the mind to gain the eternal solace of Spirit? Christ’s joy in God was so great he was willing to give up the body for Him. The purpose of life is to attain that tremendous happiness — to find God.
—Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda, “Man’s Eternal Quest”
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From: Vishal – a pure soul like You.
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