In Jainism, Sthanakwasi is a sub-sect of the Shwetambar tradition. The term “choviyaar pachkan” refers to a religious vow or fasting rule related to the consumption of food and water.

Meaning of Choviyaar Pachkan:

• Choviyaar: This means abstaining from food and water after sunset until sunrise the next day. The word is derived from “chovisa” (meaning 24) and “yaar” (meaning hours), but in practice, it relates to a fast observed after sunset.
• Pachkan: This is a Sanskrit term for a religious vow (niyam) or declaration made in front of a Jain monk, nun, or in the presence of the image of the Tirthankara. It involves resolving to abstain from something (such as food, water, or certain activities) for a specific period.

Sthanakwasi Choviyaar Pachkan:

Among Sthanakwasi Jains, it is common to take the choviyaar pachkan daily. This means, after sunset, one takes a religious vow (pachkan) not to consume any food or water until the following sunrise. This is done to minimize harm to living beings (ahimsa), as more microorganisms are thought to be present and active at night.

How Choviyaar Pachkan Is Taken:

• The practitioner recites a specific pachkan (declaration) in Prakrit or local language, in the presence of a guru or in front of a Tirthankara idol.
• The declaration typically goes as follows (in Prakrit/Hindi):

> “Maham choviyaar pachkan deyum, jena me ratiyā khāivā, pivāvā, khāvā pāṇi na karu.” (“I take the vow of choviyaar; from now until sunrise I will not eat or drink anything.”)

Purpose and Significance:

• Ahimsa (Non-violence): Prevents harm to microorganisms that proliferate at night.
• Discipline and Self-control: Encourages restraint and spiritual discipline.
• Purity: Food and water are likely to contain more micro-life at night, so abstaining is considered purer.

In Summary:

Sthanakwasi choviyaar pachkan is a daily vow taken by Sthanakwasi Jains after sunset to abstain from eating or drinking until sunrise, as a practice of non-violence and self-discipline.