Shh…..Today we are Celebrating Silence; Today is one of the important Jain festivals, “Maun Ekadashi.”

How about every Punya you do gets multiple to 150 times? Does that sound like a good deal? If so, Maun Ekadashi (Today) is that day.

The festival of “Maun Ekadashi” (also known as Maun Agyaras) is an auspicious Jain festival that falls on the 11th day of the month, Magshar (Magshar Sud 11). According to the English calendar, this year falls on Dec 3rd, 2022 (Today).

Most people, Maun Ekadashi, take a vow of silence to reflect on their thoughts and prevent themselves from hurting anyone, even accidentally, through speech.

Why is Maun Ekadashi so important & all my Punya's get multiple 150 times.

We Jains celebrate the five kalyanaks (auspicious events) of a Tirthankara's life:


  • Chyavan (conception)

  • Janma (birth)

  • Diksha (renunciation)

  • Keval Gyan (omniscience)

  • Moksha (liberation)

However, this day is particularly special because of a total of 150 kalyanaks from Tirthankaras of the past, present, and future all fall on this day of maun Ekadashi. The day is so auspicious that any thought, word, or action is multiplied by 150 times. As this day is noteworthy and has so much power, some ways to observe the holiday include going to the temple or spending time at home praying to the Tirthankaras.

As a result, many people celebrate maun Ekadashi by fasting, going to the temple to perform puja, and observing silence to restrict their speech to lessen their accumulation of bad karma. It is even said that if one observes Paushada (living the life of an ascetic) and takes the vow of complete silence (maun) on this day for 11 years and 11 months, he or she will gain salvation in an upcoming life. Remember that everything on this day is multiplied by 150 fold, so even one fast achieves the fruits of 150 fasts.

Here is a short story depicting this

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God Shri Neminath and Krishnavasudeva:

Once, when Shri Neminath came to the city of Dwarka, King Krishnavasudeva, on hearing the news of his arrival, decided to go and give his humble salutations to Him. After listening to his sermons, he rose and bowed before Shri Neminath and asked, “Hey Lord, being a King with loads of responsibilities of the kingdom, how can I continuously do my religious rites (Dharma)? Please tell me a prominent day in the year on which one can take fewer vows but achieve maximum results?” To this Shri, Neminath replied, “Hey Krishna, if you have a wish of this kind, then on the 11th day (Ekadashi) of the bright half of Magshirsh month (Magshar Sud 11), you should conduct all the rites related to this day.” He also explained the significance of this day.

Significance of Maun Ekadashi:

On this day of Ekadashi -

1) Shri Aranath (18th Tirthankar of the Jains) renounced the world and became a monk.

2) Shri Mallinath (19th Tirthankar of the Jains) was born, renounced the world, and attained Kevalgyan (Liberation).

3) Shri Neminath (22nd Tirthankar of the Jains) attained Kevalgyan.

Thus, 5 Kalyanaks of the three Tirthankars are celebrated on this day. There are also Chauvishis in other kshetras, namely Bharatkshetra and Airavatkshetra, which also had 5 Kalyanaks. So, 5 kalyanaks in 5 Bharatkshetras comes up to 25 Kalyanaks (5 X 5) and 25 Kaylanaks in the 5 Airavtkshetras. Hence, 50 Kalyanaks in all the kshetras for the past, present, and future chauvishis give us 150 Kalyanaks.

Listening to this, he raised a query, “Lord, please tell me in the past who has worshiped this day and has achieved its fruits?” Then, Lord Neminath gave an example of Suvrat Sheth, who followed the vow with complete devotion and achieved salvation.

Story of Suvrat Sheth:

In the province of Ghatkikhand, in the town of Vijaypatan, lived a merchant named Sur. The King of that state respected Sur and regarded him as intelligent. One night, sleeping peacefully, he woke with a start at midnight and it dawned upon him that because of the good deeds done in his previous life, he is living happily and lavishly in his present life. So, to live with prosperity in the next life, he will have to do something fruitful in the present, as without this, everything is meaningless. Soon after sunrise, he met his Guru and listened to his sermons. He got inspired by his teachings and asked, "Hey Guru, I can't worship and practice my religious rites continuously due to my work. If you could please tell me one day on which I can follow my religious rites and achieve maximum results (Punya)?” At that time, his Guru replied, “On the 11th of the Magshar month (Magshar Sud 11), which is an Ekadashi, you should fast in the Paushada form with silence for 11 years and 11 months continuously on that particular day. After completing this vow, you should celebrate it grandly.” Listening to this, he and his family commenced the Ekadashi fast for the said period with complete devotion. Fifteen days after the completion of his penance, he died and went to the 11th heaven (Devlok).

After spending 21 Sagaropam in the 11th Devlok, he took birth in the Bharatkshetra, in a town named Sauripur, as the son of Sheth Samruddhidat. He was named Suvrat by his father. When he realized that he had got this beautiful life and had been to the 11th Devlok because of worshipping the day of Ekadashi, he, along with his 11 wives, took the vow of Ekadashi. All his wives attained Kevalgyan and acquired Moksha (Salvation). After a while, even King Suvrat, while doing his penance, achieved Kevalgyan. All the Devas from the Devlok celebrated his day of liberation. He then sat on a lotus and gave sermons to his deities. After a few years, he acquired Moksha too.

In this way, Lord Neminath narrated this story to King Krishnavasudeva and after that, he and his entire kingdom decided to follow this righteous path.

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Here are some rituals that need to be followed to worship on the day of Maun Ekadashi:

A fast is observed in Paushadha with keeping silence

  • Kayotsarga of 12 Logassa

  • 12 Khamasanas

  • 12 Swastikas and 20 Navakarvalis of the Jap Pad

Be sure to reflect upon your thoughts and actions for the day and keep in mind the sheer significance of maun Ekadashi. And, of course, don’t forget that although maun Ekadashi is only officially observed for a single day each year, we should continue carrying out the same practices throughout our daily lives.