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.