Harshad Narvekar

Micchami dukkadam is a prakrit phrase literally meaning—may all the evil that has been done be fruitless. After the pratikramana Jains seek forgiveness from all the creatures of the world whom they may have harmed knowingly or unknowingly by uttering the phrase—micchami dukkadam. As a matter of ritual, during samvatsari—the last day of Jain festival paryusana—Jains utter the phrase— Micchami Dukkadam after pratikraman. As a matter of ritual, they personally greet their friends and relatives micchami dukkadam seeking their forgiveness. No private quarrel or dispute may be carried beyond samvatsari and letters and telephone calls are made to the outstation friends and relatives asking their forgiveness.

Some of the sites which have free “Micchami Dukkadam” sms , messages greetings are:

1) http://b4tea.com/fun/smsgreetings/michhami-dukkadam-sms-greetings-michchhami-dukkadam

2) http://www.kathiyavad.com/index.asp?catname=Michhami%20dukkadam%20SMS&id=121

3) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jainfriends/message/3832

4) http://www.kathiyavad.com/search.asp?id=121&character=160&category=Michhami+dukkadam+SMS

5) http://b4tea.com/fun/smsgreetings/michhami-dukkadam-sms-greetings-michchhami-dukkadam

Micchami Dukkadam!!!

Two of the most important festivals for the Jains are Paryushana (Paryusan) and Diwali OR Pratikramana (Samayika): Renewal meditation
The original Prakrit (ardhamagadhi) term for Paryushana is “Pajjo-savana”. In case of Jain terms, the Prakrit forms of the words are the original.

“Parismantadushayante dhante karmani yasimannasau paryushnm”

Paryushana is staying of the monks in one place. In popular terminology, this stay is termed chaturmasa because the rainy season is regarded to be about four months. However, the minimum duration of Paryushanaa is regarded to be 70 days. For this minimum duration, Paryushana must be initiated by panchami (fifth day) of the shukla phase of the Bhadrapada month. In the scriptures it is described that Lord Mahavira used to start Paryushana on Bhadrapada Shukla panchami. After Lord Mahavir, nearly 150 years Jain Samvatsari was shifted to Chaturthi (4 th day of Bhadrapada of Shukla phase. since 2200 years jains follows Chaturthi.

Paryushan Parva is an annual religious festival of the Jains. In Jainisim, fasting is considered as a spiritual activity, that purify our souls, improve morality, spiritual power, increase knowledge and strengthen relationships. The purpose is to purify our souls by staying closer to our own souls, looking at our faults and asking for forgiveness for the mistakes and taking vows to minimize our faults.

Religious and spiritual discourses are held where tales of Lord Mahavira are narrated. The Namokar Mantra is chanted everyday. At the end of Fasting, all will ask for forgiveness for any violence or wrongdoings they may have imposed previous year

Digambara Jains observe it for a period of ten days during which Dashalakshana vrata is undertaken. Tatwartha Sutra of Umaswati is recited. They celebrate Ananta- Chaturdasi on the Chaturdasi.

Svwetambara Jains celebrate it as an 8 day festival which ends with Bhadarpada Shukla Panchami. Kalpa Sutra is recited including the section of birth of birth of Lord Mahavira. The last day is called Samvatsari.

The date for the Paryushana festival is thus Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturthi for both major sects. Because of computational and other differences, there can be some minor differences among various subsects. Recently there has been an attempt standardize the date.

Footballing rivalries will be renewed later this month when Arsenal and Celtic clash in a two-legged play-off to reach the Champions League group stage.

The Gunners travel to Parkhead for the first leg before the return tie at the Emirates.
It would be a mouth watering & blistering start to the champions league for the gunners.
Arsenal must overcome Celtic if they are to qualify for the group stages of the champions league.

* Champions League play-off draw in full:

FC Sheriff v Olympiakos

SV Red Bull Salzburg v Maccabi Haifa

FK Ventspils v FC Zurich

FC Copenhagen v Apoel Nicosia

Levski Sofia v Debrecen

Lyon v Anderlecht

Celtic v Arsenal

FC Timisoara v VfB Stuttgart

Sporting v Fiorentina

Panathinaikos v Atletico Madrid

The first legs will be played on August 18/19, while the second legs will take place on August 25/26

Krishna Janmashtami…also known as “Krishnashtami”,”Saatam Aatham” ,”Gokulashtami”, “Ashtami Rohini”…..

Janmaashtami, popularly known in mumbai as Dahi Handi is celebrated with enormous zeal and enthusiasm and pride. Various Handis (mud/clay pots) are set up locally in almost every nookard (corner) of the city, and groups of youngsters, called Govinda Pathaks (Troupes of Lord Krishna) travel around trying to break as many handis as possible during the day. With poiticians getting involved now a days there is alot of money flowing in these festival…

One of the handis worth Rs. 40000 ($1000) was captured by my camera lens.