Ratnavali Tap is a very big, very strict Jain austerity (tap).

In simple words:

• It is a long‑term fasting vow, spread over many months (about 1 year and 3–4 months).
• It is made up of a fixed pattern of upvaas (fasts) and parna (breaking the fast) called paripati.
• In this tap, one does many “bele” (1‑day fasts) and “tela” (3‑day fasts) in a particular sequence.
• There are four rounds (paripati) of this whole sequence.

In each round, the parna becomes more and more simple, for example: - 1st round: parna with normal permitted food (including milk, ghee, etc.). - 2nd round: parna without rich items like milk/ghee. - 3rd round: only very little/simple food (just a light “lep”). - 4th round: parna with Ayambil‑type very plain food.

Because of this graded simplicity, it is called “Ratnavali” – like a mala (necklace) of jewels, where each “jewel” is a special fast.

Important points:

• It is described in Jain Agams like Antakṛddasha / Antakṛtdaśā Sutra as one of the very high, rare taps done by great shravaks and shravikas aimed at quick destruction of karmas and even keval‑jnan / moksha.
• It is not a basic or common tap like Ekasana, Ayambil, or simple Upvaas.

Only very strong, well‑guided sadhaks should even think of it, and that too only under guidance of experienced Jain acharya / muni / guru.

• The real value is not just the long fasting, but:

- doing it with right faith (samyak darshan) - peaceful mind, without pride - non‑violence and carefulness in all activities - constant swadhyay and dhyan during the tap

So, Ratnavali Tap = a very advanced, long, structured fasting program in Jain Dharma, meant for very high spiritual progress and strong destruction of karmas, mentioned in our Agams as an example of extreme tapasya.