Paushadh (Posadh) means “living like a sadhu/sadhvi for a set time.” A shravak/shravika temporarily takes the five great vows fully and spends the day only in spiritual practices.

What you need for Paushadh

• Sankalp (Pachchakkhan): A clear resolve taken in front of Arihant-Siddha-Agam-Guru, to observe Paushadh from sunrise to sunrise (or for the time you choose). If possible, take guidance from a guru.
• Place: A clean, quiet room or upashray. Keep it free from household work and visitors. Sit and sleep on a simple asana or the floor.
• Dress and purity: Fresh, simple white clothes; no leather, perfumes, ornaments, or cosmetics. Maintain shuddhi (cleanliness) of body and place.
• Food–water discipline:

- Best: Upvas (no food), with only boiled water during daylight. - If needed: Ekasan or Biyasan, only before sunset, very simple food, no night eating; only boiled/filtered water in daytime.

• Vows to keep during Paushadh:

- Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha in their mahavrata form for the period. - Complete celibacy, no business/work, no travel, no entertainment, no phone/internet, speak very little (ideally maun). - Stay indoors, avoid cooking and household chores.

• Daily spiritual routine (do as per your capacity and tradition):

- Samayik (equanimity) multiple times. - Pratikraman (evening and/or morning), Pratyakhyan, Kayotsarga. - Chaityavandan, Navkar mantra jaap, stavan, Prabhu-bhakti. - Svadhyaya: read or listen to scriptures/pravachans. - Bhavanas (friendliness, forgiveness, humility, non-attachment).

• Basic items:

- Asana, clean white cloth; muhapatti if you use it. - Pratikraman/Samayik texts or audio; rosary not required. - Boiled/filtered water vessel covered with cloth; simple thali if doing ekasan. - A soft cloth to gently clear the sitting area (to avoid himsa).

• Closing the Paushadh (Uvasampada):

- End with pratikraman/pratyakhyan, ask forgiveness (Kshamayachna: “Michchhami Dukkadam”), and then gently break the fast as per your pachchakkhan. - Offer dana (Atithi-samvibhag) according to capacity.

Notes on traditions

• Shvetambar and Digambar both treat Paushadh as a śikshā-vrata for laypeople: living like an ascetic for the set period. Core principles above are common.
• Minor differences are in avashyak practices and liturgy order. Follow the paddhati of your own sangh/guru.

If you want short ready references on Paushadh and related śikshā-vratas, see:

• Twelve vows of a layperson, including Paushadh (overview)
• Paushadha as a śikshā-vrata in the 12-vows list (brief)

May your Paushadh be shuddha, peaceful, and karmashaya-shaman (reducing karmic inflow).