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Samvatsari (संवत्सरी) or the last day of the Jain festival of Paryushan (पर्युषण – दशलक्षणपर्व ) is a day reserved for seeking forgiveness. The tradition recognises that human beings make mistakes every day knowingly or unknowingly and hence, sets aside a beautiful ritual for asking all beings to forgive their mistakes. Seeking forgiveness (क्षमा) is not a mere verbal act, it transcends the mind, speech and body (मन, वचन, काया).
The festival is also a reminder that one should not just seek forgiveness but also learn to forgive. The 24th tirthankara, Mahavira Swami had given humankind his timeless message – क्षमा वीरस्य भूषणम् | ( क्षमा वीरों का गहना है| Forgiveness is an ornament of the brave.)
खामेमि सव्वे जीवा, सव्वे जीवा खमंतु मे|
मित्तिमे सव्व भुएस् वैरं ममझं न केणई||
मिच्छामि दुक्कडम्|
मिथ्या मे दुष्कृताम्|
I ask forgiveness for all living beings. May all living beings grant me forgiveness. My friendship is with all living beings, My enmity is totally non-existent.
Micchami Dukkhadam – Please forgive me for all my bad deeds.
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