Answer

Chauvihar Upvas means a Jain fast in which a person does not eat any food for the whole day and also follows Chauvihar, meaning no food or water after sunset.

Explanation

In Jain Dharma:

• Upvas means fasting — generally giving up food for a full day.
• Chauvihar means giving up all four types of intake after sunset:
  • Food
  • Water
  • Mukhvas or chewable items
  • Any drink or edible substance

So, Chauvihar Upvas usually means the person observes a full fast and does not consume anything, including water, after sunset. In many Jain practices, if one is doing upvas, they avoid food during the day also; depending on the vow taken, water may or may not be taken during permitted daylight hours.

Spiritual Understanding

Chauvihar Upvas is not only about avoiding food. Its deeper purpose is:

• To control the senses
• To reduce attachment to taste and body comforts
• To practice self-discipline
• To support ahimsa by avoiding eating and drinking at night
• To focus more on prayer, samayik, pratikraman, and inner purification

Takeaway

Chauvihar Upvas is a disciplined Jain fast where one observes upvas and avoids all food and water after sunset, helping the soul move toward restraint, purity, and spiritual awareness.