Answer

In Jain Dharma, Atham generally means a fast of three continuous days, usually with complete renunciation of food. Depending on one’s strength, health, tradition, and guidance, there can be different variations.

Common Variations of Atham

• Complete Atham: Three full days of fasting, usually taking only boiled water during permitted time, if allowed by one’s tradition.
• Chauvihar Atham: Three days of fasting with complete renunciation of food and water after sunset. In stricter practice, water is also avoided entirely depending on the vow taken.
• Tivihar Atham: Three days of fasting where food is renounced, but boiled water may be taken during the permitted daytime period.
• Nirjala Atham: Three days without food and without water. This is a very difficult tapasya and should be undertaken only with proper capacity and guidance.
• Ayambil-based Atham: Instead of complete fasting, some people may perform three days of Ayambil, especially if they are unable to do full upvas.
• Ekasana or Biyasana Atham: For three days, one eats only once daily or twice daily within Jain dietary discipline, as a lighter form of tapasya.

Explanation

The word Atham is commonly associated with three-day tapasya. The strictness can vary:

• Some observe it as full upvas for all three days.
• Some take only boiled water during the proper time.
• Some do a milder form such as Ayambil, Ekasana, or Biyasana for three days.

The exact practice can differ among Jain communities and family traditions.

Spiritual Understanding

The purpose of Atham is not only physical fasting. Its deeper aim is:

• control over taste and attachment,
• reduction of passions like anger, ego, deceit, and greed,
• increased focus on samayik, pratikraman, svadhyay, mantra, and inner purity,
• strengthening detachment from the body and worldly desires.

Takeaway

Atham can be practiced in different levels of strictness, but in Jain Dharma the most important thing is to do it with right intention, humility, non-violence, self-control, and spiritual awareness. For difficult forms like Nirjala Atham, guidance from a Guru or knowledgeable elder is very important.