On the occasion of Samvatsari festival i.e. the festival of forgiveness, everyone is asked for forgiveness by saying ‘Micchami Dukkadam’. Meaning of this festival (Micchami Dukkadam) is to forgive all living beings and seek forgiveness from all so we don’t have resentment for anyone.
In the month of Bhadrapada, Jains (Svetambar and Digambar) celebrate Paryushan festival. The basic purpose of celebrating Paryushan is to focus on the undertakings required to purify the soul. Paryushan of Shvetambara sect lasts for 8 days.
After that the Digambar sect celebrates Paryushan for 10 days. They also addresses them by the name of ‘Daslakshana’.
When this festival took place?
These days Kalpasutra/Tattvartha Sutra is recited, self-study is done in the presence of saints-sages and learned pundits. It is considered necessary to stay for maximum time in the temple, Upashray, Sthanaka and Samavasaran premises.
More and more time is spent in worship, aarti, congregation, fasting, renunciation and penance and efforts are made to stay away from daily activities. Continuous use of restraint and discretion, practice goes on.
On these days, people who do fasting, Bela, Teela, Athai, Maaskhaman without eating anything, without drinking anything, those who do waterless tapasya get appreciation.
During the festival of these 8 days, the festival of forgiveness, non-violence and friendship comes Samvatsari. On the occasion of Samvatsari, Jains ask for forgiveness from each other for the mistakes made knowingly or unknowingly. It is worth noting that the Paryushan festival of Shwetambar Jain society has been completed and forgiveness day is being celebrated.
Micchami Dukkadam Meaning in Jainism
According to the tradition of Jainism, on the last day of Paryushan festival, on Kshashavani Diwas (Friendship Day), everyone apologizes to each other by saying ‘Micchami Dukkadam’, along with it is also said that I have known or unknowingly through mind, word, body. If I have hurt your heart, I apologize to you with folded hands. This is the true meaning of Micchami Dukkadam
Micchami Dukkadam Meaning:
“forgive my mistakes”
According to Jainism, ‘Micchami’ means “to forgive” and ‘Dukkadam’ means “mistakes”, i.e., forgive me for the mistakes made by me knowingly or unknowingly throughout the year which hurt you and your soul.
Micchami Dukkadam Word Origin
Many Jain texts have been composed in Prakrit language. ‘Micchami Dukkadam’ is also a word of Prakrit language. Paryushan Mahaparva is the festival of self-purification among Jains. In this way, the Paryushan festival is a great festival that provides an opportunity for self-purification, to remove malaise and to ask for forgiveness from everyone.
According to Acharya Mahashraman – Forgiveness creates a feeling of joy in the mind and a person with a happy spirit develops friendship, and on attaining friendship, the person becomes fearless by purifying the emotion.
If there is contact with many people in life, then bitterness can also come during the year. When a person feels bitterness, it should be cleared in the mind immediately and must be cleaned on Samvatsari.
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Festival Across the globe
Even abroad is not untouched by the Payushan festival of Jainism. Jain religious people living here also celebrate the festival of ‘Micchami Dukkadam’ by doing penance and worship these days and by apologizing to their relatives and acquaintances who live far from them, they celebrate the festival of forgiveness.
Apart from India, this festival is celebrated with pomp in many other places in the world, such as America, Canada, Britain, Australia, Germany, Japan and many other countries.
It is believed that by giving forgiveness, you give protection to all other living beings and take a pledge to protect them. Then you will follow self-control and discretion, experience inner peace and be friendly towards all living beings and things. The soul can remain pure only when it does not interfere outside itself and is not disturbed by the outside element. Forgiveness is its motto.
Tirthankara Mahaveer has Said –
खामेमि सव्वे जीवा, सव्वे जीवा खमंतु मे।
मित्तिमे सव्व भुएस् वैरं ममझं न केणई।
That is, I have friendship with all beings, I have no enmity with anyone. This sentence is traditional, but has a special meaning. According to this, forgiveness is more important than asking for forgiveness.
That’s all in the end – ‘Micchami Dukkadam’