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  • How do I do varahui tapa
  • author Posted by
    Jain Follower

    How do I do varahui tapa

    6 months ago 100

    “Varahui tapa” almost certainly means Varshi‑tap / Varshi‑tapa (वर्षीतप) – the one‑year alternate‑day fast that many Jains complete with Akshay Tritiya parna.

    I’ll explain it in very simple, practical steps.

    ---

    1. Basic idea of Varshi‑tap

    • Duration: about 1 year (13 months–13 days), depending on tradition.
    • Pattern: One day Upvas, next day Bhojan, again Upvas, again Bhojan… like this continuously.
    - Upvas day = full fast (only boiled water at fixed times). - Bhojan day = eat with full Jain rules, generally only once (ekasan) or twice (beasan), depending on the pachchakkhan you take.

    Goal is not only to skip food, but to purify mind, speech, body through tapas, prarthana and dhyan.

    ---

    2. Before starting – very important

    1. Health check

    - If you have any medical issue (diabetes, BP, etc.), first talk to a doctor and your Guru/pravachak. - Varshi‑tap is a mahatap – do not start just by emotion or group pressure.

    1. Take Pachchakkhan / Sankalp

    - Go to a Sadhu/Sadhvi, Acharya, or guru of your tradition. - Take formal pachchakkhan for: - How long (1 year – Varshi‑tap) - Type of fast (Upvas with chaudihar, only boiled water, etc.) - On Bhojan day – ekasan or beasan, no raatri‑bhojan, etc.

    1. Decide where you will stay

    - Ideally stay near derasar / upashray, so you can do: - Daily Samayik / Pratikraman - Swadhyay and Puja / Chaitya‑vandan - Avoid parties, heavy social functions, travelling that breaks niyam.

    ---

    3. Daily routine – simple pattern

    A. Upvas day (Fasting day)

    • Morning
    - Uthte hi Navkar Mantra, Logassa (if you know), prarthana for shakti. - Snan, dev‑darshan, do as much as possible: - Samayik - Swadhyay – read / listen to Jain granth, life of Tirthankars, 12 bhavna, etc. - Jaap – Navkar, Uvasaggaharam, Logassa, etc.
    • Food / Water
    - No food. - Boiled water only in fixed time limits (e.g., sunrise till sunset), as per your pachchakkhan. - Many do only boiled water till sunset, then nothing.
    • Whole day
    - Avoid gossip, mobile, TV, unnecessary talking. - Keep maun for some time if possible. - Forgive others, keep kshama‑bhav.
    • Evening / Night
    - Pratikraman (if you know; otherwise at least Kayotsarga, Alochana in your own words). - Go to sleep with shuddh bhav – think, “Aaj ka din samyak darshan‑jnan‑charitra ke liye tha.”

    ---

    B. Bhojan day (Eating day)

    • Same spiritual routine as far as possible:
    - Dev‑darshan, Samayik, Swadhyay, Jaap, Pratikraman.
    • Food rules (general)
    - No raatri‑bhojan. - No vihit‑vigai (onions, potatoes, green leafy in chaturmas etc., as per your maryada). - Eat only once (ekasan) or at most twice (beasan) – exactly as decided in pachchakkhan. - Eat simple satvik Jain food, no taste‑excitement, no overeating.

    Remember: Bhojan day is for “re‑strengthening body for next upvas”, not for enjoyment.

    ---

    4. Digambar & Shwetambar – small differences

    • Both traditions keep Varshi‑tap.
    • Digambar:
    - Often more emphasis on akhand maun, staying mainly at tirth (e.g., Shatrunjay, Sammed Shikhar) if possible. - Some do very niyam‑yukt upvas with only boiled water in strict time.
    • Shwetambar:
    - Many do Varshi‑tap from one Akshay Tritiya to next, or from Chaitra to Vaishakh according to local maryada. - Regular upashray‑based activities: Samayik, Pravachan, collective Swadhyay.

    Exact method can vary by gacch / sangh / guru – always follow your own Guru’s instructions.

    ---

    5. Completion (Parna) on Akshay Tritiya

    Common practice:

    • Last fast of Varshi‑tap ends, and on Akshay Tritiya (or pre‑decided tithi) you do parna:
    - Early morning dev‑darshan, puja, prarthana. - Take agya for parna from Guru. - Do Parna with great shraddha, usually with: - Gau‑doodh, sugar‑water, or simple Jain food, as per local maryada.

    The spiritual mood should be vinay & kshama, not show‑off.

    ---

    6. Practical tips

    • Start with smaller tapas if you are new:
    - Ayambil oli, 9 ekasana, 11 upvas, 47 fasts etc., before going to full Varshi‑tap.
    • Keep family informed and supportive – cooking niyam se, no forcing you to attend late‑night functions, etc.
    • If you ever feel physically unsafe (fainting, very low BP, etc.), immediately stop fast and inform Guru & doctor – in Jain dharma, ahimsa (including self‑ahimsa) is highest.

    ---

    In short, to do Varshi‑tap:

    1. Take proper pachchakkhan from your Guru.
    2. Keep alternate‑day Upvas and Bhojan with strict Jain niyam.
    3. Add regular Samayik, Swadhyay, Pratikraman, and bhakti every day.
    4. Complete with bhav‑yukt parna on the decided tithi (often Akshay Tritiya).

    If you tell me your tradition (Digambar / Shwetambar) and age / health, I can outline an even more specific daily schedule for you.

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