Jain festival of Sugadha Dashami being held in Jaipur today

25 September, 2012

Sugadha Dashami festival, as part of ten-day Paryushana (19-28 September) observance is being held today with solemnity and devotion in Jain temples across Jaipur. Along with other rituals, on this day, all divine beings of Jainism are offered incense sticks.

THE LOCAL Jain temples are organizing the programmes like Abhisheka of idols, shantidhara, jhhankis, mahima kavya and worship sessions. Paryushana observance for most Jains begins on Chaturthi of the Shukla Paksha phase of the Bhadrapada month for an annual renewal of the faith and purity of soul by listening to and reading the scriptures, meditation and vratas or vows of self-control. On the dashami, the 'sugandha dashami vrata' occurs. The last day of the ten-day festival is called Samvatsari festival.

The festival works as a reminder that the ultimate aim of life is to lead the soul to its true freedom or liberation or nirvana. All Digambar Jains celebrate the Dash Lakshan Parva religiously, and devotedly. It is believed that it helps the followers to live more peacefully with the outside world.

This Jain festival is meant for the observance and dedicated practice of ten universal virtues, namely, forgiveness, humility, honesty, contentment, truthfulness, self-restraint, austerities, renunciation, non-attachment and chastity.

Some other essentials of Jainism are: gaining equanimity by withdrawing to the self; following the Dharma as presented by the ancient monks; praying to the guru and the deity; reflections on vratas and past transgressions; detachment from the body; and making affirmations or vows.

It is held that contemplation and understanding of the true nature of the soul with the aim of its purification is the ultimate goal of observing Paryushan.