Answer

In Jain Dharma, Upvas means fasting with spiritual discipline. The main types of Upvas include:

• Chauvihar Upvas – No food and no water after sunset; usually complete fasting for the day with Chauvihar at night.
• Tivihar Upvas – No food, but boiled water may be taken during permitted daytime hours.
• Pani Sahit Upvas – Fasting without food, but water is allowed according to proper rules.
• Nirjala Upvas – Complete fast without food and without water.
• Ekasan – Eating only once in the day, in one sitting.
• Beasan / Biyasana – Eating two times in the day, in two sittings.
• Ayambil – Eating once in the day, simple tasteless food without spices, oil, ghee, milk, curd, sweets, fruits, etc.
• Atthai – Eight continuous days of Upvas.
• Masakshaman – One month of continuous Upvas.
• Varsitap – A long tapasya traditionally involving alternate-day fasting over about one year.

Explanation

In Jainism, fasting is not only about avoiding food. It is meant to reduce attachment to the body, control desires, practice self-discipline, and focus on the soul.

Some fasts are lighter, like Ekasan and Beasan. Some are stricter, like Nirjala Upvas, Atthai, or Masakshaman.

Spiritual Understanding

The purpose of Upvas is:

• To reduce passions like anger, pride, deceit, and greed
• To practice self-control
• To spend more time in prayer, samayik, pratikraman, swadhyay, and meditation
• To purify karma through tapasya

Takeaway

In Jain Dharma, true Upvas is not only fasting from food, but also fasting from sinful thoughts, harsh speech, anger, and attachment.