Answer

In Jain Dharma, Attham / Atham Tap generally means fasting for 3 continuous days.

During Attham, a person usually observes:

• No food for 3 days
• Only boiled water, if permitted, during the proper time
• More focus on samayik, pratikraman, swadhyay, mantra, and inner purity
• Forgiveness, humility, and control over anger, pride, deceit, and greed

General Attham Procedure

• Before starting: Take guidance from your Guru Maharaj, Sadhvi ji, or knowledgeable elder.
• Pachchakkhan: Take proper vow for Attham according to your tradition.
• Water: If doing chauvihar, no water after sunset. If doing strict fasting, follow the rule given in your pachchakkhan.
• Daily practice: Do Navkar Mantra, Samayik, Pratikraman, Kayotsarg, Swadhyay, and bhavna.
• Avoid: Anger, gossip, entertainment, unnecessary talk, and worldly distractions.
• Completion: After completing 3 days, do proper parna at the correct time, usually with suitable simple food or drink as guided by elders.

Spiritual Understanding

Attham is not only about staying hungry. Its real purpose is:

• To reduce attachment to the body
• To purify the soul through restraint
• To practice self-control
• To increase devotion, awareness, and forgiveness

Important Note

If you have health issues, are elderly, pregnant, diabetic, or taking medicines, please do Attham only after taking guidance from a doctor and your Guru/elder. In Jain Dharma, tapasya should be done with awareness, humility, and proper capacity.

Takeaway

Attham is a powerful Jain tapasya of 3 days fasting, but its true success is in purity of thoughts, discipline of speech, and calmness of soul.