Here’s About The 11 Healing Days!
During the initial lockdown phase, when people were busy with new trends like the dalgona coffee one, fb comment or the insta username prank, etc to keep themselves busy, something unexpectedly great happened to me.
I watched the epic Mahabharat! I have 4 sisters and being in a country like India, it was very obvious we 5 were compared to the Pandavas our whole childhood. So when I got a chance, I finally discovered the Pandavas! And ohh boy! It changed my perspective about my sisters and my life completely. My 11 year old sister used to call me brata!! So there was language transformation too. And all this resulted in my last mythological blog. Do read it if you haven’t!
But recently when I had a good conversation with an old friend, he reminded me of the Roocha from 8th and I traveled a lot down the memory lane. I remember in those days, I and Dad used to watch these Ancient Aliens and other space related shows massively. I was obsessed with the Archeological things, the temple formations, the sculptures, our culture, mythological stories and the scientific outlook behind them! I wanted to visit Stonehenge on a particular day, the Pyramids of Giza is still a dream! I was fascinated about the Aliens!
I remember discussing all these things for hours with my dad and my bench partner. We both had a common rough book for discussion with detailed diagrams and flowcharts. I had started reading books almost at the same time. I had good bonding with the librarian, obviously because she got a helper or assistant for the library and I got my way to be with my books. I don’t remember much of the biographies now, just the gist but I still remember most of the things drawn in that rough book.
So the friends who thought that Roocha back then was a bit “lost bird”, I guess she was over ambitious about her dreams back then.. Which may not come true in the way imagined.But I am still fascinated about all those things. AND this may be because my name “Rucha” itself means “vedic verses”. My parents just changed the spelling.
This brief introduction about Roocha back then was necessary because the people who know me now are aware that I don’t believe much in idol worshiping! It’s been years now that I have stopped saying the prayers, I just fold my hands in front of the idol, be thankful for whatever he has blessed me with and he knows my expectations too. I still believe in the power but try to worship it by being a good person.
But then there are these 11 days in my life, when I turn into a religious or spiritual person each year. It transforms me as a better person. And today I am here to share my experiences about these “healing” days. So let’s start from the very beginning.
I am a Jain. I belong to that Jainism which you studied in a history textbook in your 6th and 8th grade. We belong to the Digambar sub caste of Jains. And every year we have this festival called “paryushan or Das Lakshana Dharma”.
What is Paryushan?
It is the major annual event of the Jains and is usually celebrated in August or September in Hindi calendar Bhadrapad Month’s Shukla Paksha. The duration of paryushan is 10 days for digambaras and it ends with celebration of Kshamavani. During these 11 days strict religious rules have to be followed which includes eating before sunset[after sunset you cannot take food and/or water (boiled) more than once in a day.], you cannot eat food made of Kandmool ie veggies and stuff that grow underground like onion, potato,brinjal,ginger,garlic,etc.
There are a lot of religious and spiritual things happening around. Many spiritual competitions take place. I remember participating in one such event when I was 10–12, we had to speak on one of the 24 Tirthankaras of Jain. And every participant got ‘religious’ Snake and Ladder as a gift!
Let’s talk about the Pooja’s !
So during these pooja’s we not only worship or praise the God, but also worship the shastra (literature) and guru (teachers). We have a separate “dev-shastra-guru” pooja. There are 10 days of poojas to celebrate the 10 qualities of an ideal human which I find very interesting and philosophical. It is known as “Das Lakshana” pooja. And it is performed just before the aarti.
I feel the poojas (especially this one) are so well planned and written that if you just pay attention to its words and recite with all positive vibes, it will heal or purify yourself!
And being a Sanskrit student in my school days, the language is benefiting me so much! When I was a school student I opted for it because people said if you study Sanskrit, you can fairly understand any other language and obviously they said it’s a “scoring subject”. Well, I am experiencing it both! And if I get the chance I really want to study Sanskrit further.
Coming back to the Pooja, when I observed the whole pattern we performed the pooja, I feel they are designed with a scientific and psychological outlook! The pooja starts with a “sandhi/sthapana stotra” where we call the power and request them to give us the knowledge of right conduct. Then there is “ashtak” i.e. poetic offering of 8 things.[which includes purified water, chandan,rice(tandool), flower(clove),something sweet(nirvan),aarti, incense stick(agarbatti) and fruits]
Once done with these, then there is a 7–8 liner stotra of that day’s quality. You have to recite it once for day1,then there is one liner Japp for the same quality which YOU HAVE TO RECITE 108 TIMES! Then on day2, you would have to repeat the same process but add 1st stotra with 2nd and 1st two with 3rd. So on day10,you will say all the 10 stotras together with the japp of that particular day only!. This is how they make things fit in your mind!! And finally there is a “Jaymala’’ i.e summary of the whole thing! And this whole process does not take more than 30–40 minutes!(doesn’t this process feel similar to what we used to do to by heart the Long Conceptual Answers?)
Let’s Analyze the Das Lakshana Dharma.
By analyze I mean what an 18 year old Sanskrit student back then understands from the religious texts. This is what I have learned from them. So correct me if I am misled somewhere! We were taught to translate the text and then write their summary. But I cannot do it all now, so let’s focus on the summary and my learnings. Come on let’s go!
Day 1: Uttam Kshama (forbearance) — उत्तम क्षमा
“We forgive those who have hurted or been wrong with us and seek forgiveness from those for our wrong behaviour. Forgiveness is sought not just from human colleagues, but from all living beings residing on this planet for the both concious and unconcious harm.”
I remember once my English teacher of 10th, Deepali maam had said to us, “know your worth and be you, the people will throw stones at the Mango tree and not at the babul tree.” I feel if you be yourself and have patience, you will most probably get all the affection and appreciation you deserve. But as the coin as the other side too, yes there are people who will hurt you with their words or deeds, it can be both intentional and unintentional. These people can be random people who just exist in your life, friends and family too! But we have to decide what weighs more the affection or a few harsh words/deeds, so forgive, smile and move on.
Day 2: Uttam Mardav (Modesty/Humility) : उत्तम मार्दव
Wealth, good looks, reputable family or intelligence often lead to pride,which can make us feel that we are superior to others. This may give us temporary happiness but when we reach a higher position and then fall, THAT would be miserable! So the best way to deal with all this is to set your role models and your dreams so high that whatever you do or achieve should feel the least as compared to your dream. Just stay grounded and NEVER EVER FORGET WHERE YOU STARTED FROM AND THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORTED YOU!
And let’s just stop this discriminating game on all sorts of “criteria” and look at the person based on their thoughts! And start believing that everyone is equal but yet unique.
Day 3: Uttam Aarjav (Straightforwardness) : उत्तम आर्जव
This one!! When you try to pretend things, think one thing, speak something else and do something entirely out of box, it feels pathetic. When we practise such things,there is a constant feel of threat! This lockdown phase has made all of us realise this! When we lose our own identity for whatever reasons, we cannot be happy completely!
So better way is do what you feel is right, be your own mad genius, stop pretending and be the way you are because it took ages to become what you are today! The one who cares for you the way you are, will find their way to be with you while the others? It’s better that they dont exist in your life now. But they too have given some fantastic memories and damn good lessons!
Day 4:Uttam Satya (Truth) : उत्तम सत्य
“Satya’’comes from the word Sat, whose one of the meanings is “existence”. Existence is a quality of the soul. Recognising the soul’s true nature as it really exists and taking shelter in the soul is practising Nischay Satya Dharma.”
I feel at times, when a lot of things are going on in your mind, speak only those things which are actually neccassary to be shared and then share it with your 100% originality. Dont just make the things look worse than they are! Once done with it, dont think over it again and again. Beacuse when we share our thoughts, our mind is not stable. We at times tend to think what if the front person misunderstands me? What if I wont be able to explain what I feel?
Day 5: Uttam Shoch (Contentment/Purity) : उत्तम शौच
“ In order to dwell in pure soul and enjoy the bliss, the accumulated filth of karma (material attachments, jealousy, anger, lust, greed, Physical pleasures etc.) ought to be cleaned up. The process of cleaning up is called the Purity Dharma”
I recently heard someone saying, “Our mind is the worst master but the best servant”. We are what we think! Each day is going to bring us new experiences, some fabulous and a few worse. If the situation seems worse, find your own ways for being happy. The “HOPE” keeps you moving.
Yes, at times we start to sort of assume things, or have/had great expectations from something but life has its different plans. Life is a theme park ride. So let’s face all the hurdles, it’s bringing for us. Today they feel problematic, tomorrow they would be the “stories of those days!”
Day 6: Uttam Sanyam (Self-Restraint) : उत्तम संयम
This one has 2 sub points:
- Restraining from injury to life — from a very tender age itself, we(jain kids) are taught that every living being in our surroundings has emotions and that they should not be harmed. It includes humans, animals, plants,insects as well as the micro organisms too! So maybe because of this I am really careful while dealing with people that by any way words or deed, I should not do something which I will regret later on. Jainism says we should self-restraint from desires or passions — These lead to pain and are therefore to be avoided. Now it’s even clear why Jains are vegan and prefer kandmool as per their choices.
- Restraining injury to the self — one needs to learn to self-restraint from desires or passions — Emotions, e.g. likes, dislikes or anger lead to misery and need to be eradicated. Because it is YOU who know who you are and the true nature of your soul. So erase the memories which make you feel helpless. Yes, it will take all the required time but it will surely fade away. And then after all its you who would not let those things affect you.
Day 7: Penance (Uttam Tap) : उत्तम तप
The purpose of penance is to keep desires and passions in control. As humans, we tend to get excited for small things. But there should be a balance and for that you need to plan things in a practical way and set your priorities.
Penance does not only mean fasting but also includes a reduced diet, restriction of certain types of foods, avoiding tasty foods, etc. For our generation food is not only a necessity but an emotion too. Being a foodie, I know how tempting it is to pass through a food court or khau gali but at same time, I know I have restricted myself to use a certain amount of money for all my requirements of the month. So decide your priority and move ahead!
Day 8: Uttam Tyaag (Renunciation) : उत्तम त्याग
“Controlling desires not only leads to an influx of meritorious karma, but also absolving oneself from bad karma.” People having more money, most of the time are in the race to bring all the comforts to their life and because of this they spend huge amounts of money on unnecessary things.
“ Nothing I have is truely mine” is what I have started believing, we just play our role, it’s the people and society around us, who makes us what we are by developing our personality. So in that case, we have a lot to return back to the society, make it a better place. There are a lot of people who need your support. Sometimes emotionally, financially and sometimes both. You just need to look up from your life and find them.
Day 9: Uttam Akinchanya (Non-attachment) : उत्तम अकिंचन्य
“Historically ten possessions are listed in Jain scriptures: ‘land, house, silver, gold, wealth, grain, female servants, male servants, garments and utensils’. Being unattached from these, helps control our desires and leads to an influx of meritorious karmas.This assists us in being unattached from our internal attachments: false belief, anger, pride, deceit, greed, laughter, liking, disliking, lamentation, fear, disgust, sexual desires. Ridding the soul of these leads to its purification.”
My take on this is that when you spend most of your time for years with some selective people, be it family members or friends, you observe them so closely that a slight change( especially negative) is easily visible. And that makes you unhappy or tense.You obviously want them to get back to normalcy, be the same joyous person again.At times, you try your best to get to the person in the possible way, cheer them up, let them know how important that person is for you. But even after all this, you are not sure if the front person is convinced or not!
The best thing to do at such times, say it loud to yourself, “ I have tried to help that person genuinely with all my patience but now I AM NOT responsible or liable for their unexpected words or deeds. It’s not Me but them.” Just be normal with them, life has already made its plan for them and for us too!
Day 10: Uttam Brahmacharya (Supreme Celibacy) : उत्तम बह्मचर्य
Brahmacharya is derived from the word Brahma — Soul and Charya — to dwell. Nischay Brahmacharya means to dwell in your soul. Only by residing in the soul,you are the master of the Universe. Residing outside your soul makes you a slave to desires.
Celibacy means to have complete devotion to the inner soul and the supreme God.One must discard the carnal desires, vulgar fashions, child and old marriages, dowry, dominated marriages, polygamy, criminal assault on ladies,use of foul and vulgar language.
Day 11 (last day): Kshamavani:
Kshamavani or “Forgiveness Day” is a day of forgiving and seeking forgiveness. “Micchami Dukkadam” is the common phrase when asking for forgiveness. It is a Prakrit phrase meaning “May all the evil that has been done be fruitless”. It also means “ If I have caused you offence in any way, knowingly or unknowingly, in thoughts,word or deed, then I seek your forgiveness.”
Bonus fact:
In some Indian States, slaughter houses are kept closed for 1–8 days during the Paryushan festival. It is done in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, that have large populations of the Jain community.On 14 March 2008, The Supreme Court of India held that the ban on slaughter houses in Ahmedabad during Paryushan festival is legal. The court noted:
In a multicultural country like ours with such diversity, one should not be over sensitive and overly touchy about a short restriction when it is being done out of respect for the sentiments of a particular section of society. It has been stated above that the great Emperor Akbar himself used to remain a vegetarian for a few days every week out of respect for the vegetarian section of the Indian society and out of respect for his Hindu wife. We too should have similar respect for the sentiments for others, even if they are a minority sect. (para 74)
I am glad that because of these 8–10 days, a huge number of innocent lives are saved for a time being.
Conclusion:
The festival started with forgiving people, ends with seeking forgiveness. If we try to follow at least 6–7 qualities, we could really live satisfied life. I really feel there was something extra magical this year with this festival, or maybe it was me, who made it feel that way. After all, we all hope for better things to happen. Maybe I had my whole time to attend the poojas as compared to all previous years due to school and college.
This rarely happens with me but I actually didn’t miss the food which I really enjoy, this time there was NO Cravings!!! I also realised though my voice is that well for singing but when we all sing the pooja’s together, it feels so good! Those vibes are worth waiting the whole year.
Every year these 11 days work as a software update for me. They heal and detox me and bring out a better version of Roocha. I hope whatever I learned or observed from these days, will help you somewhere in your life. Hopeful.
