Pachkhan (also spelled pachkhan/pachchakkhan) means a vow or formal resolve in Jainism. It is a short commitment you take to observe a specific austerity or restraint, usually related to eating, movement, or other daily conduct. It is often recited before starting a fasting, during a ritual, or before breaking a fast to remind yourself of the discipline you are choosing to follow. The idea is to prevent harm (ahimsa) and purify the self.

Different common types you may come across:

• Mutthi Pachkhan: a short, simple vow taken for everyday restraints (often before eating or drinking). You can read more here .
• Ekshana Pachkhan: vow to eat only one meal in a day, in one sitting. You can read more here .
• Tivihara (Trivihara) Pachkhan: vow related to movement/eating, typically restricting to three places or three items after a certain time. You can read more here .
• Chovihar nu Pachkhan (Chaturvihara Pachchakkhan): vow to abstain from four consumables after sunset, to promote discipline and ahimsa. You can read more here .
• Navkarsi, Porsi, Sadhporsi, etc. (types of daily Pachkhan associated with eating patterns). You can read more here .

Note: Pachkhan is one of the practical ways Jain practitioners observe restraint (towards ahimsa and self-discipline). The exact wording and practice can vary slightly between Digambar and Shwetambar traditions, but the core idea — a formal vow to refrain from certain actions or foods for a period — remains the same. If you’d like, I can share a specific Pachkhan for a particular activity (eating, fasting, or movement) in your tradition.