Answer

In Atthai (8 days of fasting/tapasya), the main focus is:

• Fasting with discipline according to your capacity and guidance
• Samayik, Pratikraman, and spiritual reflection
• Navkar Mantra jap and devotional activities
• Listening to pravachan and studying Jain Dharma
• Maintaining peace, forgiveness, and ahimsa in thoughts, words, and actions

Explanation

During Atthai, one should avoid unnecessary worldly activities and spend more time in dharma. Common practices include:

• Doing morning and evening Pratikraman
• Doing Samayik as much as possible
• Chanting Navkar Mantra
• Reading or listening to Jain scriptures and pravachan
• Practicing maun if possible
• Keeping the mind free from anger, ego, deceit, greed, jealousy, and gossip
• Asking forgiveness from others and forgiving others

If you are doing upvas, take care to follow the proper rules of fasting as taught in your Jain tradition and under guidance of elders, guru, or knowledgeable shravaks/shravikas.

Spiritual Understanding

Atthai is not only about not eating. Its deeper purpose is to reduce attachment to the body, control desires, purify karma, and move the soul closer to its true nature.

The fasting becomes spiritually meaningful when it is joined with:

• Right faith
• Right knowledge
• Right conduct
• Inner purity

Takeaway

In Atthai, do less worldly activity and more soul-focused activity. Fast with humility, do dharma with devotion, maintain peace, and keep your mind connected with the Navkar Mantra and the path of liberation.