Answer

In Jain Dharma, there are several types of fasts, depending on strictness and purpose. The main commonly practiced types include:

• Upvas – Complete fasting from food for one full day.
• Chauvihar Upvas – Fasting with no food or water after sunset.
• Tivihar Upvas – Fasting where water may be taken during the day, but not after sunset.
• Ekasan – Eating only once in a day, in one sitting.
• Beasan – Eating twice in a day, each in one sitting.
• Ayambil – Eating simple, tasteless food once a day, without spices, oil, ghee, milk, curd, sweets, fruits, etc.
• Unodari – Eating less than one’s hunger.
• Navkarsi – Eating only after a fixed period after sunrise.
• Porsi, Sadh Porsi, Purimuddh, Avadhdh – Different time-based food restrictions after sunrise.
• Varshitap – A long austerity traditionally involving alternate-day fasting for about one year.
• Attham – Fasting for three continuous days.
• Atthai – Fasting for eight continuous days.
• Masakshaman – Fasting for one month.
• Santhara / Sallekhana – A highly spiritual vow of gradual renunciation at the end of life, undertaken with detachment and proper discipline.

Explanation

Jain fasting is not only about not eating. It is a form of tapasya, meaning spiritual austerity. Its purpose is to reduce attachment to the body, control desires, practice self-discipline, and purify the soul.

Fasts may be:

• Short-term, like Navkarsi, Ekasan, Ayambil, or Upvas.
• Multi-day, like Attham, Atthai, or Masakshaman.
• Long-term austerities, like Varshitap.
• Special spiritual vows, like Sallekhana.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, fasting should be done with:

• Right faith
• Calmness
• Forgiveness
• Control of passions
• Awareness of the soul

A fast done with anger, pride, show, or ego loses its spiritual value. The inner bhav — the purity of intention — is most important.

Takeaway

There is no single fixed number in everyday practice because Jain fasting has many forms. But the main idea behind every fast is the same: self-control, non-attachment, and purification of the soul.