What are the das lakshan
Das Lakshan (दश लक्षण) are the ten supreme virtues in Jainism, taught as a guide for inner purification during the Das Lakshan Parva (often observed after Paryushan by Digambar Jains). The ten Lakshanas are:
- Uttam Kshama — supreme forgiveness
- Uttam Mardav — supreme humility
- Uttam Arjava — supreme honesty/straightforwardness
- Uttam Shaucha — supreme purity
- Uttam Satya — supreme truthfulness
- Uttam Sanyam — supreme self-restraint
- Uttam Tap — supreme austerity
- Uttam Tyag — supreme renunciation
- Uttam Akinchanya — supreme non-possessiveness
- Uttam Brahmacharya — supreme celibacy
Simple meaning (arth):
- Practice forgiveness, humility, honesty, purity, truth, self-control, austerity, renunciation, non-possessiveness, and celibacy in thought, speech, and action. These ten guide a Jain toward inner purity and spiritual progress.
Notes:
- These ten are central to the Das Lakshan observance, especially in Digambara Jain tradition; the way it’s observed and taught can vary between Digambar and Shwetambar communities. ( pluralism.org, jain24.com)