Jain Calendar 2020 Dates

Jain religion can be dated back to the times when the civilization was in its very nascent stage and the human race was exploring peace and means to live. Not causing harm to any living being - either a human or an insect - is the basis of Jainism. Freedom of the soul and attainment of Moksha is what is taught by the Tirthankaras of Jain religion. Twenty-four Tirthankaras are prominently known all over the world who preached the lesson of humanity, love, and peace. The lifestyle followed by Jain people is based on the grounds of minimalism i.e. resources required to live must have a limitation. Unlike the modern world theory, where everything has a gadget or a mobile app, the idea of Jain religion is to restrict the distractions and concentrate on the attainment of self. The festivals celebrated in Jain religion are different from others. Generally, festivals are days when we show our happiness and celebrate with pomp and show. But here, in Jain religion, it doesn’t mean so. Rather these are days of fasting, preaching, and pilgrimage. Given below is the list of Jain festivals you can refer to.

Read Today’s Panchang for your City

Jain Calendar 2020

Note: Jain calendar also considers the movement of Moon, which is very quick, in deciding the dates of fasting. The details given above are best to our knowledge, but we shall be updating them when any revision is announced. Check the site regularly for updated details.

Get your own Horoscope

As discussed above, the festivals of the Jain religion are not holidays but holy days. These are the days when prayers are performed at a heightened level and deities go out to visit the devotees. Some prominent festivals of Jainism are explained below:

• Mahavir Jayanti

Celebrating the birthday of Lord Mahavira, this day is of great importance to the Jain community. People gather in the temple to hear the teachings of Lord Mahavira and the images of him are taken outside the temple, indicating that the Lord is visiting the followers, instead of the other way round situation common to every religion.

• Paryushana

The word Paryushan means staying in one place. Jain devotees perform this task to show repentance and technically stop the flow of time. A monastic practice, primarily this was. It includes eight days of intensive fasting. All you have to do is sit back and pray. Jain scriptures are used for preaching the sayings of the Lord and puja is performed exhaustively.

• Mauna Agyaras

A day-long fast which includes staying completely quiet and not uttering a single word, Mauna Agyaras is said to be a sacred duration.

• Kartik Purnima

A day considered auspicious for pilgrimage, Kartik Purnima, which is also celebrated as Guru Nanak Birthday in Northern-India and Sikh community, is of immense significance for Jains as well.

• Diwali

Lakshmi Puja or Diwali is celebrated by Hindus with an extravaganza. Gifts, lights, sweets, and shopping are things associated with the celebration of Diwali. In Jain community, however, the two days of Diwali mean two days of fasting.

Fasting is a common custom in Jainism. There are majorly four types of fasting popular in Jains. These are:

1. Complete fasting

Like regular fasting, it means that you will be giving up food and water completely for a defined period. The time limit is not set and varies from person to person. Great monks go for fasting for a week or more. Generally, the duration of a fast is shorter and lasts only till a festival. However, complete fasting also includes the format of fasting until one’s death. This is fasting performed in which the person does not wish to return to normal life, rather die and attain moksha. The practice is not common but does exist.

2. Partial fasting

Eating less than you generally do and controlling your taste buds is the essence of a Partial fast. Jain people are strict vegetarians. They do not eat even ginger-garlic, as per the religious norms. When fasting, people give up their taste and survive only with what is essential.

3. Vruti Sankshepa

Another form of fasting in Jainism is limiting the number of items of food eaten. One gives up eating a particular food item for the rest of their life.

4. Rasa Parityaga

Similar to the previous practice, the only difference here is that you need to give up on your favourite food items. The ideology behind fasting is minimizing your need for resources. For feeding along, humans utilize a majority of the resources available. The situation is so difficult that animals nowadays don’t even have their share of the bare minimum.

Check Your Horoscope Compatibility With Your Partner

Within Jainism, there is a division - the Svetambaras and the Digambars. The basis of distinction lies in the understanding of the scriptures and certain rituals. The manner of worshipping may vary but the lesson to learn from Jain way of life is - “Do not harm others.”