Significance of Jain festival of Paryusana: A note and a poem

 Significance of Jain festival of Paryusana: A note and a poem
~Lalit Kishore

Note

Paryusana Jain festival is formed by two words meaning 'a year' and 'a coming back / revisit'. This festival comes in the months of Shravana and Bhadra. It is also known as Das Lakshana Parva. The Jains are mean to practice ten universal virtues, such as forbearance, truth, and purity, to cleanse the soul and achieve spiritual growth and self-purification. Devouts observe intense spiritual practice, including study of scriptures, meditation, and fasting, culminating in the ritual of Samvatsari, or universal forgiveness.
 

Paryusana Poem

The wheel of Karma, a heavy chain,

Keeps us bound, in joy and pain.

To break its hold, and find release,

Tread path of non-harm, inner peace.

Be good and kind in all you do,

Discipline your thoughts, make them true.

Faith, knowledge, action, light the way,

To a brighter, calmer day.

Five vows to guide, a steady hand,

Non-violence in the land.

Truthfulness in every word,

Never steal, be always heard.

Speak softly, let your words be clear,

Take willingly given, freely near.

Detach from things, from want and need,

A simpler life, a noble creed.

Let go of things, don't clutch so tight,

Find freedom in the purest light.

Be true to Jain, with gentle grace,

Find soul in every time and space.