Micchami Dukkadam: Jain Paryushan concludes with Asking Forgiveness

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Hundreds of Jains from the 5 boroughs of New York City gathered at the Jain Center of North America, known as the Jain temple, on Ithaca Street in Queens during the Paryushan which ended on the Samvatsari Day, Saturday, September 7, 2024. Jain centers around the United States observed Paryushan, including those in New Jersey and as far away as California.

The temple in Queens, NYC, is the oldest of the one hundred Jain temples in the U.S. and, like most temples, houses different  sects of Jainism including the Swetambaras, the Digambaras and Shrimad Rajchandra on different floors of the temple. The 4,000 sq. feet second floor houses Swetambaras’ Shri Mahavir Swami Temple and the Sthanakwasis’ Upashraya. The 3,800 sq. feet third floor houses the Digambaras’ Sri Adinath Temple and Shrimad Rajchandra Meditation Hall. The 3,800 sq. feet of the fourth floor house the Dadawadi temple and the Asthapad Maha Tirth. This makes it easy for all Jains to find their way to their own temples within one building.

Paryushan is a festival for the Jains of contemplation and purification through fasting and prayers and introspection. The Swetambaras celebrate it for 8 days while the Digambaras celebrate it for 10 days.

Many Jains fast for all 8 to 10 days, with only warm water allowed for a limited number of times in a day. The 8-day fasts are called ‘atthai’. Fasting is a foundational principle in the practice of Jainism, supposed to clease not just the body but the mind as well.

Many devotees at the Queens temple did not fast due to health and medical reasons. They ate simple meals, avoiding root and green vegetables during Paryushan. Jains regularly visited the temple, sometimes spending the whole day in prayer and contemplation.

Many came for the morning or the evening Pratikraman which is a reflective time for soul searching thoughts, speech and actions harming others, and cleanse the mind of negative emotions. During this time, Jains also reaffirm their vow to be non-violent and truthful.

At the end of the 8 days, Swetambaras celebrate Samvatsari asking for forgiveness from all living things, greeting each other with ‘Micchami Dukkadam’.

Paryushan is known as Das Lakshan Parva among the Digambara Jains. They celebrate it by reading the ten chapters of the Jain Tattvartha Sutra. At the conclusion of the Parva, Digambara Jains also ask for forgiveness from all, greeting each other with Micchami Dukkadam or Uttam Kshama.

Samvatsari and Parva both end in a ritualistic asking for forgiveness. Jains either gather at the temple or visit friends and family personally. It is believed that Samvatsari should end all quarrels and disagreements. Many propitiating gifts are exchanged during personal Micchami Dukkadam.

Jain merchandising for Micchami Dukkadam have become quite popular among the Jains. They range from classic audio of Tirthankar Vandana by Raga Pianist Deepak Shah, to musical card playing Jain Stavans by Hakoba, Inc, which also offers pure cotton white T-shirts with Jain motifs and messages.

The Jain Center in Queens is the first and oldest center, purchased in 1981, and renovated in 2005, to a modern four stories and 16, 625 sq. feet temple, with dedicated spaces for temples, a library, dining hall, conference rooms, youth center, mini theater, children’s room and art gallery. It is a unique example of the Jain principle of Anekantvad.