What we have to do if we want to perform varshitap

Varshitap is a year-long Jain austerity of alternate-day fasting, done with dedicated self-discipline and guidance from your spiritual teacher.

What you do

• Duration and pattern: Observe one full fast day (upwas) every other day, and a lighter or partial fast day (biyasan) on the alternating day. Some traditions allow two consecutive fasting days when required by tithi. The fast runs for about a year and is broken on Akshaya Tritiya. Exact start and end dates can vary by tradition, but a common pattern is to begin on the 8th day of the Krishna Paksha in Chaitra and end on Akshaya Tritiya in Vaishakh (or, in another traditional reckoning, begin on Falgun dark and end Vaishakha bright Tritiya). Discuss the exact calendar with your guru because local calendars differ. You may see both start/end descriptions in Jain texts and community guides. You should follow the schedule given by your Jain teacher. You can read more about the general timing and rationale here.
• Daily rules:

- Full fast days: take only boiled water (upwas). - Partial fast days: eat one or two meals (ekāsana or beāsana), while staying in a calm, disciplined setting. - On some days (especially when a chaudas occurs in the fortnight), you may have to fast on two consecutive days. These are traditional arrangements to mirror the long, steady discipline of the first Jina, Ṛṣabhanātha. You can read a concise description here.

• Break-fast ceremony: Akṣaya Tritīya (the third day of Vaishākha bright fortnight) is the day you break the fast, usually with sugarcane juice, in memory of the feeding of Lord Rishabhanatha. After breaking the fast, many observe a Parna ceremony and participate in temple prayers. See a brief overview here.

Who can undertake it

• Primarily lay followers (Shravaks/Shravikas) who are physically and mentally able, but monks and nuns may also undertake a similar discipline under guidance.
• It requires guidance from a guru or senior spiritual teacher and support from the Jain sangha/community.

Important notes

• Varshitap is a demanding austerity and its purpose is purification and reduction of karmas through steady self-control, humility, ahimsa, truth, and restraint from possessions and desires.
• Because calendars and traditions vary (Digambar vs. Shwetambar), start and end dates, and exact fasting rules can differ slightly. Always confirm the exact practices with your own Jain guru.

You can read more here:

• Start/end timing and pattern:
• General details about varsi-tap (varshitap) and its practice: