Posted by
How do you break an upvas?
Here is a simple, traditional Jain way to break an upvas (parna). Please follow the maryada of your own sangh and your health.
1) Inner preparation
- Sit calmly. Recite the Navkar Mantra.
- Do kshamapana (Khamemi Savve Jiva) and, if possible, a short samayik or pratikraman.
- Take a small pachchakkhan (vow) before eating, e.g., “I will eat carefully and avoid night-eating today.”
2) Correct time (parna-kal)
- Break the fast only in the prescribed daytime window announced by your temple/panchang. Do not do parna at night.
- For longer fasts (attham, atthai, etc.), strictly keep to the specific parna muhurat given by your sangh.
3) How to begin
- Start with a few sips of lukewarm boiled water. Pause and check comfort.
- Then take very light, simple food such as:
- Eat slowly, in small quantities, seated and with mindfulness. Stop before you feel full.
4) What to avoid initially
- Fried, sour, very spicy, very sweet, or heavy items.
- Very cold drinks.
- Overeating after a long fast.
5) After parna
- Offer gratitude (bhavna of santoṣa and maitri).
- If you ended a special fast (e.g., ayambil, attham), keep food simple the whole day and return to regular food gradually.
- Take a fresh pachchakkhan for careful conduct (ahimsa, careful speech, care in movement, and food discipline).
Notes by tradition
- Shwetambar: Commonly begin with boiled water and proceed to light foods as above; observe the local sangh’s parna timings.
- Digambar: Parna only in daytime within fixed kaal; begin with boiled water and very simple food; maintain strict apramatta (carefulness) and avoid night-eating.
Health care
- After long fasts, take even smaller portions and rest. If you have a medical condition, follow medical advice while keeping Jain maryada.
Helpful guides
