Six Avashyakas (the six essential daily duties in Jain Dharma)

Shvetambar tradition (widely followed by householders and monks)

• Samayik: practice equanimity and right meditation for a set time (traditionally 48 minutes).
• Chaturvimshati-stava (Chauvisanth/Logassa): reverential praise of the 24 Tirthankars.
• Vandana: respectful salutation and service to sadhus and sadhvis (Guru‑vandana).
• Pratikraman: introspection, confession of faults, repentance, and forgiveness.
• Kayotsarga: stillness and bodily non‑attachment while focusing on the pure soul.
• Pratyakhyan (Pachchakkhan): vow/resolve to avoid specific faults going forward.

Notes on traditions

• Shvetambar Sthanakvasi/Terapanthi: the six are the same in essence; idol‑worship is not performed, and the praise of the 24 Tirthankars is recited as Logassa and related sutras within Pratikraman.
• Digambar: the six essentials are observed in the same spirit—Samayik, Vandana, Pratikraman, Pratyakhyan, Kayotsarga, and Stavan (praise/worship) or Svadhyaya (scriptural study) as per text and lineage. The sequence and specific sutras can vary, but the purposes remain identical: equanimity, reverence, repentance, firmness in vows, detachment, and devotion/study.

Why these six?

• They purify conduct, reduce karmic bondage, and steadily cultivate Right Faith, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct.

For simple explanations and step‑by‑step context:

• Pratikraman and the six Avashyakas in practice
• Six Avashyakas listed among a shravaka’s disciplines