In short
Uttam Arjava, the third virtue of Das Lakshan Parva, is supreme straightforwardness. It means overcoming maya, or deceit, by keeping thought, speech and action in harmony — being the same person inwardly as one appears to be outwardly.
- Observance
- Digambar Das Lakshan Parva
- Day
- 3 of 10
- Theme
- Uttam Arjava — Supreme Straightforwardness (उत्तम आर्जव)
- Fault it answers
- Maya — deceit
- Expected date
- 17 September 2026 — confirm with your panchang
The third virtue answers deceit. Arjava means straightness — that what is thought, what is said and what is done are one thing rather than three.
The gap between inner and outer
Maya is not only outright lying. It includes the managed impression, the flattering half-truth, the silence that lets a false conclusion stand. Each of these opens a gap between the inner person and the outer one, and Jain teaching holds that the gap itself binds karma — quite apart from any harm done.
Why crookedness is exhausting
A deceit must be maintained. It requires remembering what was said to whom, and defending it. Straightforwardness is not only more virtuous; it is lighter. Much of what people call stress is the upkeep of a position they never fully believed.
Straightness with oneself first
The hardest deceit is self-deceit — the explanation for one's own conduct that one has repeated until it sounds true. Arjava begins there. Whatever you have been careful not to examine this year, examine it today.
How to observe this day
- Say one thing you have been avoiding saying, plainly and kindly.
- Correct an impression you have allowed someone to keep.
- Notice a story you tell about yourself, and test whether it is true.
- Refuse one small convenient exaggeration.
- Continue your fast or dietary restraint.
Observance and timings vary between sanghs and regions. Please confirm with your local sangh and panchang. Fasting should be undertaken within your own capacity — consult your guru or an elder, and a doctor if you have any medical condition.
Common questions
What is Uttam Arjava?
Uttam Arjava is supreme straightforwardness, the third virtue of Das Lakshan Parva. It means overcoming deceit by keeping thought, speech and action in harmony.
What is maya in Jainism?
Maya is deceit or crookedness — not only lying, but any gap deliberately maintained between what one thinks and what one shows, including flattery, half-truths and misleading silence.