Varshi Tap (Varshitap / Varsi Tap) is a very big, year‑long tapa, so it must be done slowly, with guidance of your guru and sangh. Here is a simple, practical outline:

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1. First – Decide Should You Do It?

• Be physically fit (no serious illness, pregnancy, very old age, etc.).
• Take permission and guidance from:

- Your Jain guru / sadhu‑sadhvi / pandit - And also a doctor, if needed.

• Understand clearly:

- Purpose is karmakshaya (shedding karma), not show‑off or publicity. - Whole year you must try to stay away from kashayas – anger, ego, deceit, greed.

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2. Basic Pattern of Varshi Tap

Common Śvetāmbara style (actual rules may vary by sangh):

• About 1 year (often 13 lunar months + 13 days).
• Alternate‑day fasting:

- Fast day: full upvās – no food; only boiled water within fixed timings (often sunrise to sunset, as per pachchakkhan). - Eating day: - Generally one meal (ekasana), sometimes two (beasana) as per maryada. - Food should be simple, saatvik, without extra taste or luxury.

• On some special tithis (e.g. Chaudas) you may have:

- Two fasts back‑to‑back, according to your local tradition.

End of Varshi Tap:

• Completed on Akshaya Tritiya (Vaishakh Shukla 3) with Parna:

- Traditionally break fast with ikshu‑ras (sugarcane juice), remembering Bhagwan Rishabhdev. - Do prarthana, stavan, chaitya‑paripati, and accept parna with deep vinay (humility), not pride.

You can read a clear step‑by‑step outline of Varshi Tap vidhi in English here

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3. How To Start – Step by Step

1. Pachchakkhan (Vow)

- On a good day/tithi, in temple or in front of guru/derasar at home: - Take formal resolution: - “I will, as per my capacity and maryada, do Varshi Tap – alternate‑day upvās and ekasana/beasana for one year – for atma‑shuddhi, not for laukik praise.”

1. Daily Niyam

On all days (fasting and eating):

- Samayik at least once. - Swadhyaya (Jain scripture study) – even 15–30 min. - Navkar Mantra, Logassa, etc., with dhyan. - Pratikraman / alochnā for mistakes of the day. - Watch speech, mind, & anger very carefully.

1. Fast Days (Upvās)

- Only boiled water in fixed time window (decide in pachchakkhan). - No entertainment, gossip, business tension as far as possible. - Spend time in dhyaan, paath, swadhyaya, seva.

1. Eating Days

- Ekasana or beasana as per your niyam: - One (or two) sittings. - Simple, limited food; avoid taste‑craving and overeating. - Stick to chhath / 48‑min rules for water/food if you have taken that niyam. - No night eating.

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4. Differences in Traditions (Very Brief)

• Śvetāmbara:

- Often stress full alternate‑day fast, 13 months + 13 days. - More focus on temple‑based rituals, sangh celebrations on parna.

• Digambar:

- Pattern can be shorter or somewhat different in counting, but: - Same idea: intense tapa, frequent upvās, simple food, lot of swadhyaya and dhyan. - Exact method depends on particular achar‑maryada of that sect or muni.

Always follow your own parampara’s rules given by your guru.

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5. Important Cautions

• Do not start Varshi Tap:

- Just because friends are doing it. - For social status, titles, or photos.

• Listen to your body:

- If serious weakness or illness arises, consult guru + doctor; sometimes tapa is modified or stopped – this is not paap if done with right bhaav and guidance.

• Remember:

- The real tapa is inner change – less anger, more forgiveness, less attachment, more compassion.

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In summary: To do Varshi Tap, you take a one‑year vow of alternate‑day fasting, with strict rules for food, water, and daily spiritual practices, always under proper Jain maryada and guru’s guidance, aiming at atma‑shuddhi, not show.