Are poonam and chaudas the same thing
No.
In Jain calendar terms:
- Poonam means Purnima — the full moon day.
- Chaudas means Chaturdashi — the 14th lunar day, usually just before Amavasya or before Poonam depending on the paksha.
So they are different tithis.
In simple words:
- Poonam = full moon
- Chaudas = 14th day
In Jain observance, both can be important for fasting and spiritual practice, but they are not the same.