what is chavihar chatt 7 jatra in palitana means

In Palitana, the phrase “Chauvihar Chhath Saat Jatra” (chavihar chatt 7 jatra) usually means three things together:

1. Chauvihar (चौविहार)

- A Jain food-vow: - After sunset, the person does not eat any food. - Generally, only boiled water (within fixed time) is allowed, and after that nothing till next sunrise. - It is taken to increase saiyam (self‑control) and ahimsa-bhāva while doing yatra.

1. Chhath (छठ तप)

- A type of tapas (fast). - Literally it means 6 meals skipped (3 days × 2 meals per day). - In common Jain usage, Chhath = 3‑day fast, done with discipline (mostly only boiled water in day-time, and chauvihar in the evening).

1. Saat Jatra (7 Yatra / 7 Jatra)

- “Saat Jatra” means doing the Palitana Shatrunjaya Giriraj yatra 7 times. - These 7 climbs are usually done in a short period (often over those “Chhath” days) as a special tapa + bhakti yatra to Shatrunjaya and Ādinath Bhagwan.

Putting it together:

Chauvihar Chhath Saat Jatra in Palitana means: A special sādhanā in which the devotee, under Jain vows of Chauvihar and Chhath tapa (3‑day, 6‑meal fast), performs 7 full Palitana (Shatrunjaya Giriraj) yatras with deep bhakti, prarthanā, and self‑control.

• It is a lok‑prasiddh (popular traditional) practice, not a compulsory scriptural niyam.
• Both Śvetāmbara and Digambar Jains respect Shatrunjaya and such yatras as mahā‑puṇya‑kārak, though exact local customs can differ.

For a simple background on Palitana and Shatrunjaya tirth, you can read more here