what is purpose of das lakshan upwas
Das Lakshan Upwas (Das Lakshan Parva) is a Digambar Jain festival of self-purification that lasts ten days after Paryushan. Each day is devoted to one of the ten supreme virtues (Das Lakshan) and to practices that help purify the soul, reduce karma, and live more in accordance with Jain vows.
Purpose (arth)
- Purify the soul by cultivating forgiveness, humility, honesty, purity, truthfulness, self-control, austerity, renunciation, non-attachment, and celibacy.
- Refrain from distractions and bound karmas, deepen reflection, study, meditation, and disciplined living.
- Seek and grant forgiveness, so relationships are healed and the heart becomes free from anger and deceit.
- Move toward right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct (Ratnatraya) and toward liberation (moksha).
Important notes
- In Digambar tradition, Das Lakshan Parva is observed for ten days, one virtue per day, with a culmination in forgiveness (Kshamavani).
- Shwetambar Jains observe Paryushan Parva (eight days) and may join similar introspection and forgiveness practices, though the naming and exact structure differ.