For Varshitap (13 months), always take niyam only under guidance of your Guru / Pancha. Rules can differ a little by sangh, so below is the general Śvetāmbara practice:

---

1. Duration

• About 13 lunar months + 13 days (from Chaitra Sud 8 to Vaishakh Sud 3 – Akshay Tritiya – of next year).
• Every day is either Upvās (full fast) or Beyāsan / Ekāsan (eating day).

(Exact start date: see your local Jain panchāng and Guru.)

---

2. Basic pattern (alternate days)

1. Day 1 – Upvās

- No food at all. - Only boiled water, usually within fixed “paanī samay” (e.g. sunrise to sunset – follow Guru’s niyam). - Extra dhyān, swādhyāy, pratikraman, bhakti.

1. Day 2 – Beyāsan / Ekāsan (eating day)

- Beyāsan = 2 times food, both times sitting in one place, with full maryādā. - Ekāsan = 1 time food, in one place. - No night‑eating, no outside / hotel / careless food. - No taste‑craving, keep it simple and saatvik. - Rest of time for dharma – not for TV, phone, gossip, outings etc.

1. Then repeat:

- Day 3 – Upvās - Day 4 – Beyāsan / Ekāsan - … like this through the whole 13‑month period.

1. Chaudas / important tithis:

- Many Gurus keep 2 upvās together if chaudas comes on eating day. - This adjustment must be decided by your Guru only.

You can read a simple explanation of Varshitap here

---

3. Daily niyam (suggested)

These are common niyam; your Guru may add / change them:

• Ahār niyam

- Eat only after pachchakkhān. - No green leafy on certain days if Guru says. - Avoid: taste‑seeking dishes, fried, outside food, cold‑drink, packaged junk etc. - Take food as aushadhi (medicine), not for enjoyment.

• Pāni niyam

- Only boiled, filtered water, within fixed time. - No water after sandhyā if Guru has given such niyam.

• Dharma kriyā

- Daily Samayik (even short but sincere). - Pratikraman (at least Devasi / Rai‑pratikraman). - Jaap of Navkar Mantra, Logassa, Uvasagharam, etc. - Swādhyāy – reading / listening to Jain granth under guidance. - Bhakti – Chaitya‑paripati, temple darshan, if physically possible.

• Vyavhār niyam

- Strict Ahimsa – extra care in walking, kitchen, bath, cleaning. - Control krodh, mān, māyā, lobh in daily life. - Avoid unnecessary social functions, parties, movies, time‑pass. - Speak less, speak softly, speak truthfully.

---

4. Health & permission

Before starting:

• Take permission (āgnā) from:

- Your Guru Bhagwant, and - Your doctor, especially if you have any health issues.

• Varshitap is very tough. It is not a normal upvās.

Weak health, pregnancy, major illness, or very young age – then generally not advised.

---

5. Parna (ending)

• Varshitap Parna is done on Akshay Tritiya (Vaishakh Sud 3).
• Traditionally:

- Break with Ikshurasa (sugarcane juice) in remembrance of Bhagwan Rishabhdev’s Varshitap. - Do Pujan, Bhakti, Khamasna, and accept a very simple ahār first.

• Whole sangh usually joins in anumodana.

You can see details of dates and pattern here

---

6. Important final point

• Every sangh, every Guru may have slightly different niyam (start date, whether ekāsan or beyāsan, water timings, extra fasts, etc.).
• Therefore, do not start Varshitap only by reading rules on internet.

Take: - Personal pratyaksh āgnā from Guru Bhagwant. - Clear written / spoken niyam of: - Upvās days, - Eating days, - Pāni timings, - Extra taps (chaudas, ayambil, etc.).

If you follow Guru‑given niyam with shraddhā, vinay and samyam for the whole 13 months, that is true Varshitap.