Short answer

• Yes. As a vrata of tapas, Chauvihār Upvās (no food and no water) is considered stricter and therefore spiritually superior to Tivihār Upvās (no food, boiled water allowed in daylight). Both cause nirjarā (shedding of karmas), but the nirjarā from the harsher fast is generally greater.

About “reduced hell-life”

• Jain āgamas and tattva-granthas teach that fasting, when done with samyak-bhāva (right intention) and without kaṣāyas (anger, pride, deceit, greed), leads to nirjarā, which can shorten the duration of future painful destinies, including hell. However, the scriptures do not give a fixed numeric formula comparing “how many years of hell-life” are reduced by Tivihār vs. Chauvihār. The result varies with:

- purity of bhāva and observance of ahiṃsā, saṃyama, pratikramaṇ, svādhyāy, and dhyān, - intensity of the tapa (nirjalā > with-water), - freedom from show, pride, or desire for worldly fruits.

Sect notes

• Śvetāmbara usage: “Chauvihār Upvās” commonly means a full-day fast with no water; “Tivihār Upvās” means fast with only boiled/filtered water allowed between sunrise and sunset; after sunset, nothing.
• Digambara usage: “Upavāsa” is complete fasting; “nirjalā upavāsa” (no water) is the stricter form. The idea remains the same: without water is the higher tapa.

Practical takeaway

• Chauvihār Upvās (nirjalā) generally yields greater nirjarā than Tivihār, but there is no scriptural, fixed “X vs. Y years” reduction of hell-life to compare. Focus on right faith, right conduct, right intention, and careful observance; these determine the real fruit of the fast.

Read more (simple explanations):

• Difference between Tivihār and Chauvihār Upvās
• Fasting types and rules (Upvās, Chauvihār, Tivihār)