Lay Followers
The First Paryushan Fast
पहला पर्युषण तप · પહેલું પર્યુષણ તપ
One meal, one day, and a hungry afternoon that taught her something new
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
Ten year old Hiya in Kolkata wants to fast like her older cousins during Paryushan. Her parents and the Sadhviji suggest she begin with an ekasanu, one meal in one sitting, and the day turns out to be harder and happier than she expected.
What it teaches Tapas Self-control Paryushan
The opening of the children's telling
Hiya was ten. Every year during Paryushan, her big cousins kept a fast. They did not eat all day. Hiya wanted to fast too.
"For your very first fast," said the kind Sadhviji at the upashray, "you can do an ekasanu. That means you eat one meal, at lunchtime, sitting in one place. After that, you only drink boiled water until the sun goes down." Hiya nodded. She would try.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
The heart of a fast is not the empty stomach but the watching mind.
To talk about together
When you really want something, what helps you wait?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.