Detailed explanation of what is varshitap!?

Varshitap (or Varshi Tap) is one of the highest and most difficult tapas (austerities) in Jain Dharma. It is mainly associated with Bhagwan Rishabhdev (Ādināth).

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1. Spiritual background of Varshitap

According to Jain tradition:

• When Bhagwan Rishabhdev took diksha (monkhood),

no one knew the proper way of giving alms (gochari / āhār-dān).

• Because of this, he did not get food for a long time.
• Finally, in the city of Hastinapur, a king named Shreyāns Kumar understood how to give pure alms correctly and offered sugarcane juice.
• Till then, Bhagwan Rishabhdev had observed fast for one full year (in some traditions counted as approx. 13 months / 400 days).

To remember and honour this great tap of Bhagwan Rishabhdev, many Jains perform Varshitap.

So Varshitap is not a new practice, but a smṛuti–tap (austerity in remembrance) of Bhagwan Rishabhdev’s tap.

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2. What is Varshitap?

In common practice:

> Fasting every alternate day (ekāsan or upvās) for about one year, usually from one Akshaya Tritiya to the next.

However, there are two main ways it is done:

(A) Alternate-day fasting (most common)

• Day 1 – Upvās (full fast with only boiled water, as per one’s tradition)
• Day 2 – Bhojan (usually ekāsan – one sitting, simple food)
• Day 3 – Upvās
• Day 4 – Bhojan
• And so on…

This pattern is followed for approximately one year (often counted as about 400 days, so ~200 fasts).

(B) Continuous pattern decided by guru / vow

Some people take Varshitap in slightly different patterns, always under guidance of Jain Guru / Sādhu / Sādhvi / Āchārya:

• Upvās and biyasana (two meals) on other days
• Upvās and swapping between ekāsan / biyasana
• In Digambar tradition, sometimes rules of water, timing and food-types may be stricter.

The essential point is:

• It is a long-term, fixed-vow austerity,
• Performed with regular fasting and regulated eating,
• Done as bhakti and sādhanā, not for show.

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3. Duration of Varshitap

• Traditionally, Varshitap is observed from one Akshaya Tritiya to the next Akshaya Tritiya.
• That is why it is often called “Varshi” Tap – approximately a year-long.

In some cases:

• People may complete 108 upvās or 151 upvās (depending on vow).
• But the classical Varshitap is linked with one full year in memory of Bhagwan Rishabhdev’s one-year fast.

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4. Daily routine during Varshitap (general idea)

Exact details differ by Sampradāya (sect), but generally:

On Upvās (fasting) day

• No food the whole day.
• Only boiled water during fixed times (for example, only between sunrise and sunset, or till a certain time).
• Prayers / Pooja / Swādhyāy (scriptural study) are particularly encouraged:

- Namokar Mantra - Bhaktāmara or other stotras - Reading Jain scriptures or books

• Try to keep body, speech and mind pure:

- Avoid anger, greed, gossip, fights, entertainment, etc. - Focus on samayik, kayotsarga, dhyān (meditation) as much as possible.

On Bhojan (eating) day

• Eat only once (ekāsan) or as per the vow:

- Simple, saatvik Jain food. - No green leafy vegetables on forbidden days, and usual Jain rules (no root vegetables, no eggs, etc. – as per tradition followed). - No eating after sunset.

• Do prayers and swādhyāy on this day too – not a “free” or “enjoyment” day.

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5. Purpose and significance of Varshitap

Spiritually, Varshitap helps in:

1. Karma Nirjarā (shedding of karmas)

- Tap (austerity) is one of the six essential duties (avashyak) in many Jain paths. - Strong tapas like Varshitap help burn heavy karmas when done with right bhāv (intention).

1. Control over senses and desires

- Regular fasting and discipline reduce attachment to taste and comfort. - Teaches sahanshakti – capacity to peacefully bear hardship.

1. Deep bhakti towards Bhagwan Rishabhdev

- Every fast is done as remembrance of his great tap. - Creates gratitude and devotion in the heart.

1. Strengthening of spiritual focus

- When the body is disciplined, mind becomes more concentrated. - Good time for: - Swādhyāy of scriptures - Listening to pravachans - Thinking about soul (ātmā) and its true nature.

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6. Who should do Varshitap?

Varshitap is considered a very strong and advanced vow. It is not for everyone.

• Should be taken only after:

- Knowing your health condition, - Discussing with a competent Jain guru, - And often also after medical advice (in modern times).

• Children, elderly, pregnant women, people with serious illnesses should be very careful and usually avoid such hard tapas without strong guidance.

Important:

• In Jainism, bhāv (inner feeling) is more important than outer size of the tap.
• A sincere, small tap with pure heart is better than a big tap with ego or show-off.

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7. How is Varshitap usually completed?

At the completion (normally on Akshaya Tritiya):

• The tapasvi (person who performed Varshitap) usually performs:

- Special Pooja / Jinendra Bhakti. - Sometimes Parnā (ending of fast) with pure food or sugarcane juice, following the example of Bhagwan Rishabhdev.

• Family and sangh may participate:

- Punya anumanan (recalling and sharing the merit). - Donations (dān) to sadhu-sadhvi and needy, with non-attachment in mind.

The idea is to offer the punya to all beings, not to feel pride: “I have done such a big thing,” but to think, “By Bhagwan’s grace, I was able to do a little.”

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8. Differences in traditions (Digambar / Shwetāmbar)

The core spirit of Varshitap is the same:

• Remembrance of Rishabhdev’s one-year fast
• Alternate-day fasting for approximately one year
• Aim of karmic purification and self-control

But there may be differences like:

• Exact count of days (some count lunar months, some solar, some specify 400 days, some 13 months, etc.)
• Rules of water:

- Some Digambar followers may use only boiled water during very strict time windows.

• Type of food and number of items allowed on eating days.
• Pooja style, stotra, rituals at beginning and end.

These are secondary differences; the heart of the tap remains the same.

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9. Key points to remember

• Varshitap is:

- A long-term vrati tap, - In honour of Bhagwan Rishabhdev, - Usually alternate-day fasting for about a year.

• Must be done:

- Without ego, - Without harming health severely, - With guidance of Jain guru and, if needed, doctors.

• Its real value is not in the number of fasts, but in:

- Purity of intention, - Reduction of anger, pride, deceit, greed, - Growth in compassion and self-realisation.

If you wish to attempt any strong tap like Varshitap, it is best to first practice smaller fasts and avasthā-chintan, and then gradually move under the guidance of a Jain Āchārya / Guru.