Answer

During Paryushan, Jains commonly do devotion, self-reflection, repentance, and purification practices. The main focus is not only external puja, but also inner spiritual cleansing.

Commonly performed practices include:

• Samayik – sitting in equanimity and spiritual awareness
• Pratikraman – repentance for mistakes and asking forgiveness
• Dev Vandan – reverence to Tirthankars
• Chaitya Vandan – devotional worship of Jina images
• Snatra Puja – worship connected with the birth celebration of a Tirthankar
• Ashta Prakari Puja – eightfold puja offered with devotional feeling
• Kalpa Sutra reading/listening – especially in Shvetambar tradition
• Tapasya – fasting or other austerities according to one’s capacity

Explanation

In Paryushan, the most important practice is Pratikraman, because the festival is centered on purification of the soul through repentance, humility, and forgiveness.

If you are at home, you may do:

• Morning Navkar Mantra chanting
• Samayik
• Dev Vandan or Chaitya Vandan
• Ashta Prakari Puja if you have proper setup and guidance
• Evening Pratikraman
• Reading or listening to Jain scriptures and pravachan
• Practice forgiveness, simplicity, and restraint in food, speech, and behavior

Spiritual Understanding

Paryushan is a time to reduce anger, ego, deceit, greed, attachment, and careless living. Puja becomes meaningful when it is joined with:

• Ahimsa – non-violence
• Satya – truthfulness
• Kshama – forgiveness
• Tap – austerity
• Vinay – humility

The highest spirit of Paryushan is expressed in Micchami Dukkadam — asking forgiveness from all beings for any harm caused knowingly or unknowingly.

Takeaway

For Paryushan, do Pratikraman, Samayik, Dev Vandan, Chaitya Vandan, Ashta Prakari Puja or Snatra Puja according to your tradition and capacity. Most importantly, practice forgiveness, self-discipline, and inner purification.