The last day of the eight-day religious observance of the Jains - the Paryushan Mahaparva - is known as the Samvatsari Mahaparva, which is the great annual festival of the community. Millions observe a fast on the day, recite the deity's name, practise meditation, engage themselves in study, and undertake a deep self-analysis.
The festival is observed all over the country. In Kolkata, thousands of men and women from Greater Kolkata and the adjoining areas came together to celebrate the Samvatsari festival under the guidance of Sadhvi Kanak shri-ji, Sadhvi Veena Kumari-ji, Sadhvi Madhulata-ji, Sadhvi Madhulekha-ji, and Sadhvi Shantiprabha-ji. The programme began well before daybreak with people streaming in for their day and nightlong Poushadhvrata.
Soul Purification
Sadhvi Kanak Shri ji said that the Samvatsari is a festival of "Atma Shuddhi" (Soul Purification), the day being one of forgiveness. As she put it, the man endowed with forgiveness is freed from the poison of bitterness and himself becomes pure as nectar. As Christ said when he was being incarcerated by his tormentors, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do". Perhaps encapsulating the essence of forgiveness, Sarada Ma said: "I am the Mother of the wicked, as I am the Mother of the virtuous. Whenever you are in distress, just say to yourself, `I have a Mother'". Sadhvi Kanak shri-ji explained that forgiveness is one of the four doors leading to religion; the lack of a spirit of forgiveness was also the first among the ten offences enjoined on monks. Since forgiveness is life's splendour, its pride, it was necessary to spread its message far and wide.
Sadhvi shri-ji asked people to establish a relationship of love, forgiving all the misdeeds of everyone over the past year. She said that on the occasion of the great Festival of Forgiveness, "Samvyakta Ratna" was the most precious jewel that one could think of, a jewel which had to be kept secured for the development of the soul.
The day of Samvatsari, therefore, provided a golden opportunity for making one's health and mind interact with the self. She added that people in general spentd roughly 12- to 13 hours every day to beautify the body, which was nothing better than a disposable coat. On the other hand, Samvatsari every year provided an opportunity to beautify the soul and attain lasting beauty that would outlast time itself.
Virtue of forgiveness
There can be no two views on the great value of all this to human life, especially at a time when political strife appears to be getting the upper hand in our country. Indeed, to a Maoist, what is this message of forgiveness that Jainism, among other religions, is talking about? Since to the extremist power can only flow from the barrel of a gun, the practice of forgiveness can be effected only after the gun has done its work. Indeed, when the slain body of someone described as an enemy of the "people" lies before one, it is only then that the art of forgiveness is perhaps practised - to forgive and be forgiven.
Perhaps the soul of the lifeless body does somehow perceive these sentiments and ultimately does what it is asked to do, but can it "live" again so that it can experience a life of greater fulfilment and purification? Indeed, the virtue of forgiveness is perhaps a dead virtue if it cannot be applied to an embodied soul. It is only when the pain of, and anger at, being "hurt" is overcome completely by applying the quality of forgiveness that "Atma Shuddhi" is attained.
- by Ranabir Ray Choudhury