ACHALAMJain tithis and parvas
Jain parvas follow the tithi, the lunar day, not the date of the English calendar. Here is how the tithi works and when the coming parvas fall in the Achalgachchh panchang.
Coming parva dates
| Parva | Tithi | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Saubhagya Gnan Paancham | Kartak Sud 5 | Sat, 14 Nov 2026 |
| Siddhachal Mahatirth Bhavyatra | Kartak Sud 15 | Tue, 24 Nov 2026 |
| Chaturmaas End | Kartak Sud 15 | Tue, 24 Nov 2026 |
| Maun Ekadashi | Magshar Sud 11 | Sat, 19 Dec 2026 |
| Posh Dashmi | Magshar Vad 10 | Sat, 2 Jan 2027 |
| Meru Trayodashi | Posh Vad 13 | Wed, 3 Feb 2027 |
| Gnan Panchmi - Vasant Panchmi | Maha Sud 5 | Wed, 10 Feb 2027 |
| Shatrunjay Mahatirth 6 Gaun Jatra | Fagan Sud 13 | Fri, 19 Mar 2027 |
| Varshitap begins | Fagan Vad 8 | Mon, 29 Mar 2027 |
| Shashvati Ayambil Oli | Chaitra Sud 7 | Mon, 12 Apr 2027 |
| Shree Mahaveer Swami Janma Kalyanak | Chaitra Sud 13 | Sun, 18 Apr 2027 |
| Akhatreej Varshitap Parna | Vaishakh Sud 3 | Sat, 8 May 2027 |
| Shaasan Sthapna Divas | Vaishakh Sud 11 | Sun, 16 May 2027 |
| Kutchi New Year | Ashadh Sud 2 | Mon, 5 Jul 2027 |
| Chaturmaas Start | Ashadh Sud 15 | Sat, 17 Jul 2027 |
| Paryushan Parv | Shravan Vad 13 | Sat, 28 Aug 2027 |
| Samvatsari Pratikraman | Bhadarvo Sud 5 | Sat, 4 Sep 2027 |
| Mahakaali Mata Aaradhna Day | Aaso Sud 1 | Thu, 30 Sep 2027 |
| Navpad Ayambil Oli | Aaso Sud 7 | Wed, 6 Oct 2027 |
| Diwali | Aaso Vad 30 | Fri, 29 Oct 2027 |
| Shree Mahaveer Swami Moksh Kalyanak | Aaso Vad 30 | Fri, 29 Oct 2027 |
What is a tithi?
A tithi is a lunar day. A month has two halves: Sud (the bright half, from the new moon to the full moon, ending with Poonam) and Vad (the dark half, ending with Amas). Each half has 15 tithis. The Gujarati year starts on Kartak Sud 1, the day after Diwali; the Kutchi new year starts on Ashadhi Bij (Ashadh Sud 2 (Mon, 5 Jul 2027)).
A tithi does not always match a sunrise. Sometimes a tithi begins and ends between two sunrises and is skipped (kshay tithi); sometimes it covers two sunrises and is doubled (vruddhi tithi). Each gachchh has its own rule for these days, which is why parva dates can differ slightly between gachchhs. The ACHALAM app follows the Achalgachchh panchang.
The 12 parva tithis
In every month there are twelve parva tithis: Bij, Pancham, Atham, Agiyaras and Chaudas of both Sud and Vad, plus Poonam and Amas. On these days many families keep lilotri tyag (no green vegetables), do Ayambil, Ekasan or Upvas, and do pratikraman. The ACHALAM panchang marks each one.
The five kalyanaks
Every Tirthankar has five kalyanaks (auspicious events): chyavan (conception), janma (birth), diksha, kevalgyan and moksh. For 24 Tirthankars this makes 120 kalyanak days in the year, and the panchang shows each one.
The main parvas
- Paryushan: eight days of aradhana at the end of Shravan and the start of Bhadarvo, with the reading of the Kalpasutra and Mahavir Janma Vanchan, ending with Samvatsari pratikraman and michchhami dukkadam.
- Diwali: the moksh kalyanak of Bhagwan Mahavir. The next day, the new year, is the day Gautamswami attained kevalgyan.
- Gyan Pancham: Kartak Sud 5, the day to honour knowledge.
- Kartak Poonam: the end of chaturmas; the Shatrunjay (Palitana) yatra opens again.
- Navpad Ayambil Oli: nine days of Ayambil, twice a year (Shashvati Oli in Chaitra and in Aaso).
- Mahavir Janma Kalyanak: Chaitra Sud 13.
- Akhatrij: Vaishakh Sud 3, the parna of Varshitap, in memory of Bhagwan Adinath's first parna.
- Maun Agiyaras, Posh Dashmi, Meru Trayodashi, Fagan Sud 13 (6 gau yatra) and the three Chaumasi Chaudas.
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Questions people ask
When is Paryushan?
Paryushan starts on Shravan Vad 13 (Sat, 28 Aug 2027) and ends with Samvatsari on Bhadarvo Sud 5 (Sat, 4 Sep 2027), in the Achalgachchh panchang.
What are the 12 parva tithis?
Bij, Pancham, Atham, Agiyaras and Chaudas of both Sud and Vad, plus Poonam and Amas.
What is a kshay tithi?
A tithi that begins and ends between two sunrises, so no day carries it. Each gachchh has its own rule for where its parva is kept.
Why do parva dates differ between gachchhs?
Because each gachchh handles kshay and vruddhi tithis by its own rule. Achalgachchh families should follow the Achalgachchh panchang.
ACHALAM
All tithis, pachchakhan times and parva reminders are in the free ACHALAM app.
Sources: Achal Gaccha (Wikipedia) · Aryarakshitsuri (Wikipedia) · Kalyansagarsuri (Wikipedia) · Achalgach, CVO DJM · Palitana temples (Wikipedia) · Girnar Jain temples (Wikipedia) · Bhadreshwar Jain Temple (Wikipedia) · Kothara and Naliya tirth, jainsite.com. Something not right? The samaj office can write to us at [email protected].