A pachkhan (प्रत्याख्यान) is a formal Prakrit vow recited before undertaking a Jain fast or a restricted meal, naming exactly what is being given up and for how long. This page lists the 7 standard pachkhan formulas, 3 recited in the morning and 4 in the evening.
Pending review. This Prakrit text is transcribed from a printed panchang book. A single misread matra changes what is actually being vowed, so it is presented here for reference while a knowledgeable reviewer confirms it against the printed source. Please verify the exact wording with your sangh before relying on it to take a vow.
नवकारशी-पोरसी-साढ्पोरसी-पुरिमड्ढ-अवड्ढ
Navkarshi, Porsi, Sadhporsi, Purimaddha, Avaddh
उग्गए सूरे, नमुक्कारसहिअं, पोरसी, साढ्पोरसी, सूरे उग्गए, पुरिमड्ढ, अवड्ढ, मुट्ठिसहिअं, पच्चक्खाइ (पच्चक्खामि), उग्गए सूरे, चउव्विहंपि आहारं, असणं, पाणं, खाइमं, साइमं, अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं, सहसागारेणं, पच्छन्नकालेणं, दिसामोहेणं, साहुवयणेणं, महत्तरागारेणं, सव्वसमाहि वत्तियागारेणं. वोसिरइ (वोसिरामि).
Five related morning fasts of increasing length, from a short wait after sunrise (Navkarshi) up to roughly two-thirds of the day (Avaddh), each releasing food and drink until the stated time with the standard exception clauses.
आयंबिल-निवि-एकासणा-बियासणा
Ayambil, Nivi, Ekasana, Biyasana
उग्गए सूरे, नमुक्कारसहिअं, पोरसी, साढ्पोरसी, सुरेउग्गए पुरिमुड्ढं मुट्ठिसहिअं, पच्चक्खाइ (पच्चक्खामि), उग्गए सूरे, चउव्विहंपि आहारं, असणं पाणं, खाइमं, साइमं, अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं, सहसागारेणं, पच्छन्नकालेणं, दिसामोहेणं, साहुवयणेणं, महत्तरागारेणं, सव्वसमाहिवत्तियागारेणं, आयंबिल निवि विगइओ पच्चक्खाइ अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं, सहसागारेणं, लेवालेवेणं, गिहत्थसंसट्ठेणं, उक्खित्तविवेगेणं, पडुच्चमक्खिएणं, पारिट्ठावणियागारेणं, महत्तरागारेणं सव्वसमाहिवत्तियागारेणं एकासणं बियासणं पच्चक्खाइ तिविहंपि, आहारं असणं, पाणं, खाइमं, साइमं, अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं, सहसागारेणं, सागरियागारेणं, आउंटण पसारेणं गुरुअब्भुट्ठाणेणं, पारिट्ठावणियागारेणं, महत्तरागारेणं, सव्वसमाहिवत्तियागारेणं, पाणस्स लेवेण वा अलेवेणवा अच्छेणवा बहुलेवेणवा ससित्थेण वा असित्थेण वा वोसिरइ (वोसिरामि). (जब बियासणा का पच्चक्खाण करना हो तो बियासणं और एकासणा के लिए एकासणं पाठ करनेका).
One meal a day eaten plainly (Ayambil/Nivi, without the six rich substances), or one/two sittings (Ekasana/Biyasana) — the vow reciter adjusts a single word in the text depending on which of the two is intended, as the note at the end of the formula itself says.
चउविहार-तिविहार उपवास
Chauvihar / Tiviha Upvas (fast)
सूरे उग्गए अब्भत्तट्ठं, पच्चक्खाइ (पच्चक्खामि) चउव्विहंपि आहारं, तिविहंपि आहारं, असणं, पाणं, खाइमं, साइमं अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं, सहसागारेणं, पारिट्ठावणियागारेणं, महत्तरागारेणं, सव्वसमाहिवत्तियागारेणं, पाणहार पोरसी साढ्पोरसी, सुरेउग्गए पुरिमुड्ढं मुट्ठिसहिअं पच्चक्खाइ (पच्चक्खमि) अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं, सहसागारेणं, पच्छन्नकालेणं, दिसामोहेणं, साहुवयणेणं, महत्तरागारेणं, सव्वसमाहिवत्तियागारेणं, पाणस्स लेवेण वा, अलेवेणवा अच्छेणवा, बहुलेण वा, ससित्थेण असित्थेनवा वोसिरइ (वोसिरामि).
A full day's fast — Chauvihar releases all four (food, water, tasty and digestive items) until the next sunrise, Tiviha the same except water. The second half of the formula is for anyone resuming water the same evening (Panhar).
For more than one consecutive day's fast, from the second day a separate “पानहार पोरसी से वोसिराइ” (panahar porsi se vosirai) recitation is used instead, up to the day of breaking the fast.
पाणहार
Panhar
पाणहार दिवसचरिमं पच्चक्खाइ अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं सहसागारेणं महत्तरागारेणं सव्वसमाहिवत्तियागारेणं वोसिरइ (वोसिरामि)
Taken in the evening after a day's fast has already been observed, releasing only water for the rest of the day.
देशावगासिक
Deshavgasik
देसावगासियं उभोगं परिभोगं पच्चक्खाइ अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं सहसागारेणं महत्तरागारेणं सव्वसमाहिवत्तिआगारेणं वोसिरइ (वोसिरामि)
A daily renewal of the sixth lay vow (Deshavakashik Vrat), limiting one's use of worldly things to what has been set as a boundary for the day.
मुट्ठिसहिअं अभिग्रह
Mutthisahiyam Abhigraha
मुट्ठिसहिअं, अभिग्गहं पच्चक्खाइ, अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं, सहसागारेणं, महत्तरागारेणं, सव्वसमाहिवत्तियागारेणं, वोसिरइ.
A personal resolve (abhigraha) taken alongside another pachkhan, with the same standard exception clauses.
चउविहार-तिविहार-दुविहार
Chauvihar / Tiviha / Duviha (evening)
दिवसचरिमं पच्चक्खाइ चउव्विहंपि आहारं, तिविहंपि आहारं, दुविहंपि आहारं, असणं पाणं खाइमं साइमं अन्नत्थणाभोगेणं सहसागारेणं महत्तरागारेणं सव्वसमाहिवत्तियागारेणं वोसिरइ (वोसिरामि)
The ordinary evening vow not to eat after dark (and, in the four-fold form, not to drink either) until the next sunrise — kept nightly by many Jains regardless of any other fast that day.
Paryushan dates, Micchami Dukkadam reminders and new teachings. A few messages a month at most.