Das Lakshana Parva (Dash Lakshana Parva) is a 10-day Digambara Jain observance focusing on ten supreme virtues. Each day is dedicated to one virtue, with readings and guidance from Jain scriptures, and practical daily observances. Below is a simple, day-by-day guide with practical things to do and avoid, plus a note on Digambar vs Shvetambar differences.

List of the ten virtues ( Uttama…): 1) Kshama – Supreme Forgiveness 2) Mardav – Supreme Humility 3) Arjava – Supreme Straightforwardness 4) Shaucha – Supreme Purity 5) Satya – Supreme Truth 6) Samyam – Supreme Self-restraint 7) Tapa – Supreme Austerity 8) Tyaga – Supreme Renunciation/Detachment 9) Akinchanya – Supreme Lack of Possessiveness 10) Brahmacharya – Supreme Celibacy

Daily guidance (practical steps you can take)

• Day 1 Uttama Kshama (Forgiveness)

Do: Let go of minor grudges, offer or accept sincere apologies, practice Micchāmi Dukkadāṃ (May my wrongs be fruitless). Don’t: Hold on to anger or retaliate for small hurts.

• Day 2 Uttama Mardava (Humility)

Do: Treat others with gentleness, listen more than you speak, acknowledge others’ good qualities. Don’t: Dominate conversations or boast about achievements.

• Day 3 Uttama Arjava (Straightforwardness)

Do: Speak truthfully with kindness; avoid deceitful exaggeration or hiding facts. Don’t: Twist information or mislead others.

• Day 4 Uttama Shaucha (Purity)

Do: Cultivate inner and outer purity; keep surroundings clean; eat simply. Don’t: Indulge in impurity of body or mind (harmful talk, excessive greed, waste).

• Day 5 Uttama Satya (Truth)

Do: Be truthful in speech and action; align thoughts, words, and deeds. Don’t: Speak falsehood or manipulate others.

• Day 6 Uttama Samyam (Self-restraint)

Do: Exercise control over desires; practice mindful eating, limit harm to living beings (e.g., avoid root vegetables where feasible). Don’t: Give in to impulsive cravings; harm living beings for taste or convenience.

• Day 7 Uttama Tapa (Austerity)

Do: Observe a modest regimen suited to your capacity; consider light fasting or reduced meals, mindful living. Don’t: Over-indulge in sensory pleasures or waste resources.

• Day 8 Uttama Tyaga (Renunciation)

Do: Let go of unnecessary possessions or attachments; perform charitable acts; practice contentment. Don’t: Cling to materialism or envy others’ belongings.

• Day 9 Uttama Akinchanya (Detachment)

Do: Practice detachment from outcomes, ego, and possessions; cultivate gratitude for what you have. Don’t: Be possessive or envious; cling tightly to identities or status.

• Day 10 Uttama Brahmacharya (Celibacy)

Do: Observe appropriate conduct and fidelity according to your vows; cultivate self-control in thoughts and actions. Don’t: Engage in sexual misconduct or exploit others; indulge in thoughts that harm chastity.

What to do during the Dash Lakshana Parva (general practices)

• Gather with your sangh or temple for daily talks on the day’s virtue.
• Read or listen to small passages from relevant Jain texts (often the chapters related to each virtue in the Tattvartha Sutra or related discourses).
• Practice the day’s virtue in daily life and reflect on how you can improve.
• Perform pratikraman (confession) and seek forgiveness from others for mistakes or offenses committed.
• If possible, undertake a light fast or reduce meals according to your capacity and health.

What not to do (general cautions)

• Do not harm living beings; minimize violence in daily choices (especially while eating or traveling).
• Do not lie or hide the truth; avoid deceit in speech.
• Do not hoard or overly cling to possessions; cultivate contentment and detachment.
• Do not let ego, anger, or greed drive actions during these days.

Kshamavani (Forgiveness day)

• The observance typically culminates in a collective forgiveness day (Kshamavani) after the ten days, where everyone seeks forgiveness from others and offers forgiveness to all. This is central to the Dash Lakshana Parva practice. Afterward, people often greet one another with a formal expression of forgiveness.

Important notes on tradition

• Digambar and Shvetambar calendars and practices differ. Digambar Dash Lakshana Parva is a distinct 10-day Digambara observance, with discourses on the ten chapters and related practices; Shvetambar participants follow their own Paryushan framework which emphasizes its own set of practices, readings, and the annual acts of forgiveness. For precise dates and local observances, consult your sangh calendar. ( jainheritagecentres.com, jainpedia.org)

You can read more here and see related background on the Dash Lakshana Parva and its ten virtues.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to your local sangh’s schedule or to a specific Digambar/Shvetambar tradition you follow.