Paryushan Parv-conclusion Day-Kshama Vaani or Forgiveness Day
Anupama Jain
A friend’s special forgiveness card is lying in front of me;
“I can’t change past misdeeds,But can learn from them,
Making amends and starting anew
For whatever mistakes I might have madeKnowingly or unknowingly with thoughts, words or deeds
That caused you hurt and pain,
Please forgive me and let us start on, afresh.”

She was a dear friend, due to some misunderstanding we parted ways but this little card brought tears in my eyes, all bitterness washed away with tears. Card was sent on the forgiveness day - The concluding day of Paryushan Parv or Das Lakshan Dharm Parv- Most auspicious jain festival , observed for ten days in Chaturmas. It celebrates human values - forgiveness, non violence, truthfulness etc that harbinger social harmony, amity and propagates the essence of Jainism - Live and let live!
According to jain scriptures forgiveness or kshama is termed as “ veerasya abhushanm”- a strength, not weakness. We just cannot reverse the past, and if we have to march ahead in life with positivity, why not practice forgiveness? Practicing forgiveness is greatest boon to mankind from god - said seers.

Paryushan Parv- Day Ten- Uttam Brahmcharya or Supreme Celibacy
Anupama Jain
‘The ills of life are cured, if you root out lust from your heart.’
Brahma means soul , which is chaste, enlightened, eternal and blissful andCharya means conduct. To become fully engrossed in soul is Brahmacharya-celibacy.In other words The code of conduct that leads to self-realization of Soul (orAtma) would, therefore, be the general meaning of Brahma-charya or celibacy.
On Chaturdashi devotees generally dont take cereals, instead they take only sweet water mix with crushed black pepper and soaked raisins and almond only once a day that too in evening before sunset.

Paryushan parv-Day Nine-Uttam Akinchanya or Supreme Non Attachment
Anupama Jain
"He, who abandons the evil thought of attachment to worldly objects, can alone give up possessions"
To give up the belief that this thing belongs to me is virtue of non-attachment so non attachment means to put a limit to ambitions, to put a check on desires
1Internal Attachment-The feeling of love, hatred, affection deciet,laughter,lamenation, fear, disgust and ill-will for living beings; and wrong belief are internal attachments.
. External Attachment-The greed for wealth and property is external attachment. Greed for worldly possession consists in desiring more than what is needed by an individual.Historically, ten possessions are listed in scriptures: land, house, silver, gold, wealth, grain, female servants, maleservants, garments and utensils
Remaining unattached from these helps control ourdesires and leads to an influx of punya Karma so‘Assuredly, the non-appearance of attachment and other passions is Ahinsa(non-voilence), and their appearance is Hinsa (voilence),’
Tamarind Rice
Ingredients:
2 cups basmathi rice1/2 cup tamarind juice,salt to taste,1/2 tsp turmeric powder1/2 tsp jaggerytsp mustard1 tsp channa dal6 red chilly 11/2 tblsp pure ghee,1 tsp peanuts,8-10 cashews
Method:
Pressure Cook the rice and spread on a plate. keep aside.
To the tamarind juice add salt, turmeric powder, jaggery, Fry mustard, red chillies, channa dal, peanuts,cashews in pure ghee. Add tamarind juice,salt,turmeric powder,jaggery.
Boil tamarind juice till it reaches thick gravy form and until ghee comes out with good flavour.
Add cooked tamarind gravy to the rice.
Mix well and serve.

Paryushan parv-Day Eight-Uttam Tyaag or Supreme Renunciation
Anupama Jain
'Renunciation of all possessions is Ahinsa; and appropriationOf all possessions is Hinsa
The word renunciation means to cast aside, to give up, to get rid of, to abandon and to depart.
A number of wise men have said: 'In this world it is not what we take up but what we give up, that makes us rich. Truly has it been said; "A munificent mind never enjoys its possessions so much as when others are made partakers of them. Renunciation provides greatness to a man. Lord Bahubali followed the path of renunciation and accomplished his cherished objective. He triumphs over the kingdom of the sovereign king Bharat and returned it to him subsequently without a snag . Even Lord Ram also won over Lanka after defeating Ravan, and then he renounced it by crowning Vibhishan the ruler of Lanka.
LordJinendra has stated, "A living being. who discarding attachment to things, non-self maintains an indifferent outlook for physical body and worldly pleasures, is endowed with the virtue of renunciationvery living creature is aspirant for happiness. This happiness is an outcome of renunciation.

Paryushan parv- Day seven-Uttam Tap or Supreme Penance
AnupamaJain
Tapa - Penance or Austerities (To practice austerities putting a check on all worldly allurements The purpose of penance is to keep longings and fervors in control. Over-indulgence inevitably leads to unhappiness. Penance leads to an incursion of positive Karmas .Penance are austerity. This is self control by way of fasting, meditation, study, etc. The control is aimed to elevate the soul above the pleasures and aches of our life. Penance or Austerities have a special place in the Jain code of conduct. There are twelve types of austerities or penance. The first six are considered exterior penances because they are mainly corporeal austerities. The remaining six are inner as the majority of them are connected with the intellect and our feelings towards others.
The twelve austerities are as follows-
The first six are termed as external types and the remaining six are internal types.
1) Fasting - carried out according to the firm regulations laid down by Jain religious teachers.
2) Eating in restraint- this is for good health too.
3) discarding feelings of voracity. (having limitation in the number of items one consumes)
4) Eating without feelings of affection to food.
5) Self-imposed hardships to train one's mind.
6) Control of the body and senses.
The six internal types of austerities are-
1) The repentance of transgressions.
2) Showing modesty and reverence for spiritual leaders.
3) Serving sacred leaders
4) Studying good books.
5) contemplation
6) Observing cerebral kausagga ( i.e. feeling the separation of the body and soul through Jain-yoga practices

Wednesday ,September 10, 2008
Paryushan parv- Day Six- Uttam Sanyam or Supreme Self-restraint
Anupama Jain

“There are limits to self-indulgence, none to restraint” Mahatma Gandhi.
When we defend all living beings with highest power in a cosmopolitan fortitude refraining from all the pleasures provided by the five senses - touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing; and the sixth – mind it is called Sanyam or self restrain. Our soul in a condition of mithya gyaan or false belief presume that it consists of the body, the Karmas and the sentiments, likes, dislikes, fury, conceit, etc. As a result of this wrong conviction, it imposes pain upon itself and is this the reason of its own desolation These need to be eradicated by contemplating on the true nature of the soul.

Paryushan parv- Day Five- Uttam Shauch or Contentment and purity of mind
Anupama Jain
-Jahan hai sabhi ko bhar pet bhojan , Man hai paak saaf, Aur azad hai parinda bhee jahan - He mere prabhu bana mujhe us lok ka wasee This is a simple prayer of a human being but in these challenging times it looks like we are asking for heaven. Today- on the fifth day of paryushan parva, today we will discuss evil of greed or contentment and virtue of purity of mind. Even Chanakya the master of worldly affairs or gyata of neetee shashtra has advocated for purity of mind He said
‘Purity of speech, of the minds, of the senses and of compassionate heart is needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform. But in the heart he knew it very well that purity is not needed only for getting oneself on divine platform bit it is the essence of human mind and basic of human civilization. As we grow ,we always long for purity of a child when our mind was not polluted with worldly practicalities, greed and desires and such is the force of purity that it attracts good person as well as bad person. Good person makes purity and contentment his companion whereas bad person tries to run away from its charm.
Be it Macbeth, shylock or Hindu demon god Ravana, all were victims of trap of uncontrolled desires and greed and got corrupted and were doomed. Actually greed is the selfish desire for more than one need or desires it can turn honest man dishonest and countries and nations as expansionists. Some times people defend greed but it can never be justified. The utopian society proves that greed is a bi product of the society you live in. Everybody has the same style house .food, clothes and work required of them. it is true that in society, every citizen should help each other but it is also true that most evils are developed by the bad habits among human.
Generally we do actions because we like, which means based on greed. In this trap, main greed is our guide, desire is our guide, we like this, that and the other all the time, all the time wanting, wishing; and why? Because of ignorance we fall in this trap- not understanding the result of greed, without knowing the influence or destructive power of greed.
According to jain scriptures (aagams) :-Shauch: Contentment or Purity (To keep the body, mind and speech pure by discarding greed and abstaining from possessive longing is called Shaucha or purity of soul. The longings that should be get rid off are of- 1.Jivana Lobha – longing to sustain one’s living. 2. Aroygaya Lobha – longing to sustain one’s health. 3.Upabhoga Lobha - longing to enjoy things, which will be useful to contribute to general happiness.Each object will be of two kinds; one pertaining to the self and the one pertains to others. Getting rid of these types of longing is called Shauch or purity.
Today’s Recipes
Dal Makhani in pure ghee

¾ cup- whole urad dal(kali dal) ,2 tbsp- rajma chitra,1 tsp cumin seeds (jeera), Pinch of cinnamonpowder ,2 - cloves(crushed) ,3 - green cardamoms (deseeded),1 chilli powder¼ tsp turmeric powder¼ tsp (dry ginger powder)¾ cup (150 grams) fresh malaee3 tbsp Hung curdsSalt to taste2tblsp pure ghee Method
1. Clean, wash and soak the whole urad and rajmafor 4-5 hours. Drain and keep aside. 2. Mix the dals and salt with 2 cups of water and pressure cook till the dals are overcooked. Beat well till the dal is almost mashed. 3.Heat the ghee in a pan and add the cumin seeds. 4.When the cumin seeds crackle, add the, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, and sauté well. 5.Add the hung curd , chili powder, turmeric powder, dry ginger powder and cook over a medium flame till the oil separates from gravy. 6.Add the dal mixture, ¾ cup of water and salt if required and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. 7. Beat malaee and mix well in dal. 8. Serve hot with lachha paratha

Lachha Paratha

1 cup: Atta (wheat flour)
2tsp beanSalt to tastePure Ghee
Pinch of saunf powder
Pinch of ajwainWater for kneadingMethod1. Take atta and besan in a vessle. Add ghee,saunf powder,ajwain and salt to taste. Add water gradually and knead to a smooth dough.2. Distribute the dough into 3 equal portions. Shape each part a cord of 12" in length. Place the cord-shaped dough on a flat surface or chakla . coat the inner side of the cord with ghee spiral into a jalebi shape so that the oil-spreaded surface forms the inside of every loop3. Flatten the jalebi-shaped loop and roll out the parathas into a round,5" diameter. place it on a non stick tava4. Cook for a few seconds till a little roasted. Then turn it over and let it roast.5. Now, coat the top surface with ghee as well as the sides.6. Allow to cook for a few seconds before turning it over again.7. Repeat process of coating ghee until the paratha is golden brown on both sides. Serve hot.