Answer

To start Chauvihar Upvas, you should take a sincere resolve to observe a full fast while also stopping all food and water before sunset.

Chauvihar Upvas means:

• No food
• No water
• No eating or drinking after sunset
• Observing the fast with religious awareness, restraint, and purity of mind

How to Start

• Prepare mentally: Begin with the feeling of self-control, forgiveness, and devotion.
• Take Pachchakkhan: Traditionally, one takes a vow of fasting from a Jain sadhu/sadhviji if available, or with sincere intention in front of Arihant Bhagwan.
• Stop food and water before sunset: Chauvihar requires complete renunciation of all four types of food and drink after sunset.
• Remain in dharm dhyan: Spend the day in samayik, pratikraman, navkar mantra, svadhyay, stavans, and peaceful thoughts.
• Avoid anger and distractions: Upvas is not only about not eating; it is also about reducing passions like anger, ego, deceit, and greed.
• Do parna properly: The fast is usually completed the next day after sunrise, according to proper Jain practice and family/traditional guidance.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, Upvas is a form of tapasya. It helps reduce attachment to the body, food, taste, and worldly comforts. Chauvihar adds deeper discipline because even water is renounced after the proper time.

The main purpose is not physical hardship, but purification of the soul through restraint, awareness, and devotion.

Takeaway

Start Chauvihar Upvas with humility, proper Pachchakkhan, and a peaceful mind. If you are new, elderly, unwell, pregnant, or have medical concerns, take guidance from your family, doctor, and Jain guru before attempting it.