A Jain community in India and anywhere in the world observes Festival of Navpad oli, which lasts for nine days, twice a year.
The first one falls in the bright fortnight of Ashwina month (September/October) and the second during the bright fortnight of Chaitra month (March/April).
It is exactly between Shukla Saptami (Seventh lunar day) to Purnima (Full moon day) in both Ashwina and Chaitra months. Jain performs Ayambil Tapa for nine days to salute these nine supreme posts in the universe.
Ayambil (Ayambila) is a special type of fast in that one eats only boiled grains that too once in a day. It is not permitted to add any spices, oil, ghee, curd, milk, or green/raw vegetables, fruits and sugar, and its products to the boiled grains.
Hence, it is very difficult for a layman to perform Ayambil Tap. Some people do add salt and black pepper. Some don’t.
Navpad Oli and seasonal change
The earth moves around the sun and duration of days and nights are constantly changing around the year. Duration of a day and night in India are almost equal during March-April and September-October. These are the days of Navapad Oli.
As the duration of days and nights are almost equal, nature lives in equilibrium in these days. These neither are scorching heat nor chill cold. These are also moderate seasons, perfectly suitable for worshiping supreme powers of the universe.
Navapad oli in Chaitra comes at the beginning of summer and end of the winter. Similarly, Navapad oli in Ashwina comes at the beginning of winter and the end of the summer.
Both seasons are crucial for our mental and physical health. Devotion and Navpad prayer keep us mentally healthy whereas Ayambil (fast) and other penance energize us to fight with diseases and keep us healthy physically.
Navpad, Panch Parameshthi, and Siddhachakra Yantra
Nava means nine in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages and Pada means post. Hence the word Navapada (That is generally spelled in English as Navpad) means nine supreme posts of the universe. These nine are Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu, Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnyan, Samyag Charitra and Samyag Tapa (Austerity).
Navapad is also called Siddha Chakra. This is a Yantra in a circular shape in that Siddha is placed on the top. Arihant is placed in the center and Acharya at the right side of Arihant.
Upadhyaya is placed on the lower side and Sadhu on the left side of Arihant. Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnyan, Samyag Charitra and Samyag Tapa are placed in four corners starting from the upper right corner and then moving clockwise.
First five posts of Navapad are called Panch Parameshthi where Param means ultimate or supreme and Esthi means to worship.
Thus these Panch Paramesthi are the eternal powers to be worshiped. Arihant and Siddha are Deva(God) Tatva and Acharya, Upadhyaya and Sadhu are Guru (Preacher or master) Tatva. Generally, the first five (Panch Parameshthi) are placed in the shape of idols and the next four by name only.
Brief description Of Arihant (First Day of Navpadi Oli)
Arihant: This is the first post of Navapad and posted in the center of Siddhachakra. It falls among Deva Tatva as described earlier. Arihant is the supreme power of nature. He is the purest soul in the universe with a physical body. Ari means Enemy and Hant means destroyer. Here enemies are internal and these are Raga (Craving or attachment) and Dvesha (Hatred). Hence, Arihant is free from earthly attachments and hatred and referred to as Veetraga. He lives in the world with a physical body in perfect equilibrium. He is also a universal observer having complete wisdom that is Kevala Jnana (Omniscience).
Arihant is also called Arhant that means worshiped by the whole universe. He has twelve supreme attributes and depicted by the symbolic color white.
As he knows anything and everything in the universe by virtue of his Kevala Jnyana he preaches true spirituality Sitting in a Samavasharan (Picture posted). He also establishes Chaturvidha Sangha, the fourfold Jain Sangh. Sadhu (Male ascetics-Monks), Sadhwi (Female ascetics-Nuns), Shravaka (Household followers, Male) and Shravika (Household followers, female) are the constituents of this Sangha that is also called Teertha. Arihant establishes the Teertha, hence, he is also called Tirthankar.
Jain followers worship Arihant Pada in Shukla Saptami, the first day of Navapad Oli. They perform Ayambil by eating boiled rice only. Color of Arihant is white, hence the grain chosen for Ayambil is white i.e. rice. They also pray, worship and meditate for Arihant during the day.
My first meal for Navpadi oil is Whole Moong beans sabzi (Mug Nu Shak), Moong beans Water (Mug nu Oani), Rotli and Rice.
1. Take boiled moong beans in a pan. Switch on the flame. Add ¼ cup of water, salt, and pepper. Mix well and let it cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Your moong beans sabzi is ready.
1. Take boiled moong beans and water into a bowl. Grind them into a grinder.
2. Sieve it using a strainer.
3. Heat a pan. Add prepared moong beans water. Add and salt and pepper. Mix well and let it cook for 5 minutes. Moong beans water is ready.
Navpadi Ayambil Oli
Ingredients
For Moong beans sabzi
- Moong beans boiled - 1 cup
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Moong beans water
- Boiled Moong beans - ½ cup
- water - 1 ½ cup
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
For moong sabzi
- Take boiled moong beans in a pan. Switch on the flame. Add ¼ cup of water, salt and pepper. Mix well and let it cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Your moong beans sabzi is ready.
Moong water
- Take boiled moong beans and water into a bowl. Grind them into a grinder.
- Sieve it using a strainer.
- Heat a pan. Add prepared moong beans water. Add and salt and pepper. Mix well and let it cook for 5 minutes. Moong beans water is ready.
Kiran j sheth says
Kindly advise recipies for the remaining 8 days of Ayambil Tap, as u hv already give the receipe for the first day. Thanks. jai Jinendra as, i wish to undertake this tap from Oct 15th, kindly advise by then
Dhwani Mehta says
Sure Kiran!! I am working on some projects so busy these days. But I will try to post. Thanks. 🙂
SAMKIT MEHTA says
Chola wadi is permitted In ayambil Tap.
Amish Shah says
Food Options:
1. Similar to boiling Moong you can boil different pulses like:
a. Dried Peas (Sukha Vatana) and make Ragda.
b. Boil kala Chana
c. Boil mix daal (Split moong aka Chilka Moong, Chana, Udad, Tur Arhad) –> Ensure to use the Tur Arhad daal without oil one. This is Mixed daal.
d. Boil Whole Wheat grains
2. Dhokli
a. Boil Split moong aka Chilka Moong.
b. Transfer the boiled Chilka moong daal in a pan with water, salt, pepper
b. Make Aata Dough and make a bit thick Rotli. Do not Cook the rotli but make squar pieces and add them in boiling Chilka moong.
Your Dhokli is ready.
3. Dhokla
a. Take Whole Chana Daal 1 bowl and soak it in water for 3-4 Hrs. Soak it after the Sunrise as we cannot eat overnight soaked food.
b. Once it’s soaked grind it in a mixi to get Dhokla mixture.
c. Add Salt to it.
d. Take steamer and add the Dhokla mixture to a steaming pan. Add grinded black pepper on it and then let it steam for 10-15 mins.
Nehal says
Really very useful information… I want to do aaymbil… This wil help me lots…. Jai jinendra 🙏
gunjan says
Hello,
Can you please post some more ayambil recipes
Thanks in advance.
Dhwani Mehta says
Hi Gunjan.
Sure I will try to post. Thanks 🙂
Poonam gala says
Ya I m too waiting for more recipes
Tisha says
Actually we can’t use salt in ayambil
Pankaj says
Very helpful information for person like me who doing navpad oli first time
Pls update for all nine days
Dhwani Mehta says
Glad to know!
Bhavarlal C Jain says
Ayambil is done only in Jain Samaj which is the toughest fasting.
Benifits of Ayambil:
Ghar meh Sukh Shanti , Health no 1, rahegi purey samaj aur desh meh Sukh Shanti rahegi, Eg. Koi badha kaam karthe hai tabh ayambil kiya karthe hai, Mandir ki Pradhista ho toh bhi hum Jain log Ayambil karthe hai, Ayambil 151 non stop aap karthey ho Leprosy, kodh rog , Cancer ,T.B. bhi bhag jayegi . I Am now 61.
Average 100 Ayambil ek saal meh katha hu. not a single tablet letha hu.
100,% Fit hu.
Bhavar. c Jain Hubli Karnataka.
indu jain says
Ayambil mein Kariyatu kaise banate hai.Please bataye.
Dhwani Mehta says
I will share the Kariyatu recipe soon. Thanks.
Sheetal jain says
Muje lagta hai humre panth alag hai esliye yeh tap alag hai lekin ayambil mei namak ka tayg bhi hota h ,woh sbse main h apko usse bhi mention krna chaeye
Dhwani Mehta says
Yes, mene vo mention kiya hai 🙂
Pooja Jain says
Thanks for sharingvthis valuable information.. starting the aayambil oli from today🙏
Dhwani Mehta says
My pleasure. Khup khup anumodna. Shata me rehna.
Bjain says
Hi,
Thanks for all this info. Is it allowed to have black tea and black coffee in aymbil
Dhwani Mehta says
You are welcome. No, you can not drink black coffee or tea.
Mansi Mehta says
Hi,
I live in New York and I plan to do aayambil ni oli. I am currently in my 23 navpad oli. While I was in India, I could easily manage doing the oli. I am a very amateur cook and there are no options of help around me. Would it be possible to have a section of all the recepies one can make in Aayambil?
Dhwani Mehta says
Hi Mansi!
I am planning to blog some ayambil oli recipes. I will try to post soon. Shata Me Rehana!
Cheril says
Can you plz send recipes of all 9days of navpad aambil
Neha says
Hi can you please tell us exactly if salt is allowed in ayambil oli or not. I have read everywhere and it says its not allowed hence it is difficult tap.