Navpad Oli is a famous Jain festival that is celebrated twice in a year. The Jain community observes the festival of Navpad Oli for nine days. The first Navpad Oli is celebrated on the bright fortnight of Ashwin month. According to English calendar it falls in the month of September/October. The second Navpad Oli is celebrated during the bright fortnight of Chaitra month. As per English calendar it falls in the month of March/April. It falls exactly between Shukla Saptami (Seventh lunar day) to Purnima (Full moon day) in both Ashwina and Chaitra months. The celebration of Navapad Oli begins in the middle of the Hindu Festival, Navaratri. Devotees observe Ayambil tap during nine days of Navpad Oli. Both the Navapad Oli falls among five Shaswata Atthai of Jain. Rest of three Atthai are Chaturmasik Atthai (Thrice in a year).
Ayambil Tapa is performed by the Jains for nine days for greeting the nine supreme posts in the universe. Ayambil is a special type of fast where one eats only once in a day. During that time he only consumes boiled grains. The person observing the fast only includes salt to the boiled grains. It is thus a difficult fast to perform.
Navapad Oli that is celebrated in the month of Chaitra comes in the beginning of summer and end of the winter. Similarly the Navapad Oli that is celebrated in the month of Ashwin comes in the beginning of winter and end of the summer. While the earth moves round the sun the duration of days and nights are keep changing. During the month of March-April and September-October duration of a day and a night in India are almost equal. These days are known as Navapad Oli.
Devotion and Navpad prayer keeps us mentally healthy whereas Ayambil (fast) and other penance energize us to fight with diseases and keeps us healthy physically.
Celebration of Navapad Oli
The word Nava means nine in Sanskrit language and Pada means post in Prakrit language. Thus, the word Navapada means nine supreme posts of the universe. These nine supreme posts are Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu, Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnyan, Samyag Charitra and Samyag Tapa (Austerity).
Navapad is also known as Siddha Chakra. Here in that Siddha a Yantra in circular shape is placed on the top. Arihant is placed in the center and Acharya at the right side of Arihant. Upadhyaya is placed in the lower side and Sadhu in the left side of Arihant. Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnyan, Samyag Charitra and Samyag Tapa are placed in four corners starting from upper right corner and then moving clock wise. Usually the first five are placed in shape of idols and the next four by name only.
