Jain Calendar 1981
A month-by-month list of the significant Jain festivals and fasting (upvas) days - Paryushan and Samvatsari, Mahavir Jayanti, the twelve Rohini Vrats, the Ashtahnika and Navpad Oli parvas, the Chaumasi Chaudas, Varshi Tap and Mahavir Nirvana - with the date and tithi of each.
The Jain Calendar lists 44 dates in 1981, from Rohini Vrat on 17 January through Rohini Vrat on 11 December. October holds the most with 6 dates. The year runs through Vikram Samvat 2037 – 2038. Mahavir Jayanti fell on 17 April, Paryushan began on 26 August, Samvatsari fell on 2 September and Mahavir Nirvana fell on 27 October.
Jain Festivals & Fasting Days
January 1981 Pausha – Magha
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 7:54 PM, Jan 16 – 5:48 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
-
Parshvanath Janma Kalyanak
Tithi 1:23 AM – 3:27 AM, Jan 31
The birth anniversary (Janma Kalyanak) of Bhagwan Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara, on Pausha Krishna Dashami - kept with the Uvasaggaharam Stotra jaap and fasting.
February 1981 Magha – Phalguna
-
Meru Trayodashi
Tithi 5:24 AM – 5:45 AM, Feb 3
The nirvana (moksha) day of the first Tirthankara, Bhagwan Rishabhadeva (Adinatha), venerated with worship of the sacred Mount Meru.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:11 AM, Feb 12 – 8:29 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
March 1981 Phalguna – Chaitra
-
Phalguna Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 10:14 PM, Mar 11 – 8:06 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:14 PM, Mar 11 – 8:06 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
-
Phalguna Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 6:07 PM, Mar 18 – 7:17 PM
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
-
Phalguna Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 7:18 PM, Mar 19 – 8:49 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Varshitapa Arambha Vrat
Tithi 12:29 PM, Mar 28 – 1:40 PM
The beginning of Varshi Tap - a year-long penance of alternate-day fasting commemorating Bhagwan Rishabhadeva's long fast before his first alms.
April 1981 Chaitra – Vaishakha
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 2:40 PM, Apr 7 – 11:31 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
-
Chaitra Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 8:28 AM, Apr 9 – 6:37 AM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
-
Mahavir Swami Jayanti
Tithi 7:15 AM, Apr 16 – 9:10 AM
The birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi - celebrated with processions, abhishek and charity.
-
Chaitra Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 11:11 AM, Apr 18 – 1:28 PM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
May 1981 Vaishakha – Jyeshtha
-
Varshitapa Parana
Tithi 2:09 AM – 10:38 PM
The breaking (parana) of the year-long Varshi Tap with sugarcane juice on Akshaya Tritiya, as Bhagwan Rishabhadeva broke his fast.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 2:09 AM – 10:38 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
-
Mahavira Swami Kevalagyan
Tithi 4:51 PM, May 12 – 6:19 PM
The day Bhagwan Mahavira attained Kevala Jnana - infinite knowledge and omniscience.
June 1981 Jyeshtha – Ashadha
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:45 PM, Jun 1 – 5:00 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
-
Shruta Panchami
Tithi 7:22 AM, Jun 5 – 5:46 AM
The Digambara festival venerating the Jain scriptures (Shruta) on Jyeshtha Shukla Panchami - commemorating the day the Shatkhandagama was first written down.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 10:01 AM, Jun 29 – 6:45 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
July 1981 Ashadha – Shravana
-
Ashadha Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 5:54 PM, Jul 7 – 7:12 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Ashadha Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 8:04 AM, Jul 15 – 9:15 AM
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
-
Ashadha Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 9:25 AM, Jul 16 – 10:09 AM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 9:05 PM, Jul 26 – 6:29 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
August 1981 Shravana – Bhadrapada
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 8:51 AM, Aug 22 – 6:38 AM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
-
Paryushana Parvarambha
Tithi 12:39 AM – 11:00 PM
The start of Paryushan - the holiest eight-day festival of the Jains - of fasting, scriptural study, penance and forgiveness.
September 1981 Bhadrapada – Ashwina
-
Samvatsari Parva
Tithi 9:27 PM, Sep 1 – 10:52 PM
The final and holiest day of Paryushan - of Pratikraman and Michhami Dukkadam, seeking forgiveness from every living being.
-
Das Lakshana Parva Begins
Tithi 10:58 PM, Sep 2 – 12:51 AM, Sep 4
The ten-day Digambara festival of the ten supreme virtues (dharma), from Bhadrapada Shukla Panchami to Chaturdashi - the Digambara counterpart of Paryushan.
-
Anant Chaturdashi Vrat
Tithi 12:08 PM, Sep 12 – 10:35 AM
The closing day of Das Lakshana, when the fourteen-knot thread of Ananta is worshipped and the Ananta Vrat is observed on Bhadrapada Shukla Chaturdashi.
-
Kshamavani Parva
Tithi 10:46 AM, Sep 13 – 8:38 AM
The Digambara day of universal forgiveness, the day after Das Lakshana - Jains seek and grant pardon with the words Uttam Kshama and Michhami Dukkadam.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:27 PM, Sep 19 – 2:15 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
October 1981 Ashwina – Kartika
-
Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins Vrat
Tithi 9:53 PM, Oct 4 – 12:18 AM, Oct 6
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
-
Ashwina Navapada Oli Ends Vrat
Tithi 9:28 PM, Oct 12 – 6:22 PM
The nine-day Ayambil (Navpad) Oli - a semi-fast venerating the nine supreme entities (Navpad), observed twice a year in Chaitra and Ashwin.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 4:48 AM – 1:48 AM, Oct 18
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
-
Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali)
Tithi 11:49 PM, Oct 26 – 1:38 AM, Oct 28
Diwali marks the nirvana (final liberation) of Bhagwan Mahavira at Pavapuri; Jains keep it with fasting, the Nirvana Laddu and recitation of his last sermon.
-
Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat)
Tithi 1:42 AM – 3:48 AM, Oct 29
The first day of the Jain Vira Nirvana Samvat year - the morning after Mahavira's nirvana, also the day Gautam Swami attained Kevala Jnana.
-
Bhai Dooj (Bhratri Dwitiya)
Tithi 3:54 AM – 6:15 AM, Oct 30
Sisters honour their brothers on Kartika Shukla Dwitiya, the day Gautam Swami is said to have visited his sister, closing the Diwali observances.
November 1981 Kartika – Margashirsha
-
Jnan Panchami (Labh Panchami)
Tithi 11:41 AM, Nov 1 – 2:11 PM
Knowledge (Jnan) Panchami - Jain scriptures and the gift of knowledge are venerated; in Gujarat it is also kept as Labh Panchami.
-
Kartika Ashtahnika Begins Vrat
Tithi 4:29 PM, Nov 3 – 6:08 PM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Kartika Ratha Yatra
Tithi 11:22 AM, Nov 10 – 7:43 AM
The Kartik Purnima chariot procession (Ratha Yatra) and the great pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya (Palitana), reopened after the Chaturmas.
-
Kartika Chaumasi Chaudas Vrat
Tithi 11:22 AM, Nov 10 – 7:43 AM
The Chaturmasic Chaudas closing one of the three four-month periods, marked by Pratikraman, fasting and penance.
-
Kartika Ashtahnika Ends Vrat
Tithi 11:22 AM, Nov 10 – 7:43 AM
The eight-day Ashtahnika Parva preceding the Chaumasi, when the Jains venerate the eternal (shashvata) Jina images with collective worship.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 12:04 AM – 8:17 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
December 1981 Margashirsha – Pausha
-
Maun Ekadashi Vrat
Tithi 6:51 AM – 4:40 AM, Dec 8
The great silent (Maun) fast of Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi, on which 150 Kalyanaks of the Tirthankaras are commemorated - kept with silence, fasting and Posaha.
-
Rohini Vrat Vrat
Tithi 6:00 PM, Dec 10 – 2:11 PM
A fasting day observed when the Rohini nakshatra prevails - kept mainly by Jain women for the long life and well-being of their husbands. There are twelve Rohini fasting days in a year.
Tithi start and end times are shown in your local time. Festival dates follow the standard Indian (sunrise) calendar and may vary by a day in other regions, and may differ slightly from regional almanacs (especially around an Adhik Maas).
What happened in the sky in 1981
Beyond the dates the Jain Calendar lists, 1981 brought 4 eclipses - 2 solar and 2 lunar - of which 1 was above the horizon somewhere in India. Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) fell on 28 October, 12 days earlier in the year than in 1980 - a lunar year runs about eleven days short of a solar one.
Eclipses of 1981
| Date (IST) | Eclipse | Hindu date | Seen from India |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Jan 1:19 PM | Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Magha Purnima | Not visible |
| 5 Feb 3:38 AM | Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) 3 days after Meru Trayodashi | Magha Shukla Pratipada | Not visible |
| 17 Jul 10:16 AM | Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan) | Shravana Purnima | Not visible |
| 31 Jul 9:15 AM | Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan) | Shravana Amavasya | Yes - Sutak observed |
Sutak Kaal was observed for 1 of these.
Guru and Shani in 1981
| Date | Graha | Sign change |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Oct 1:30 PM | Guru (Jupiter) | Kanya → Tula |
Jupiter takes about a year to cross a sign, Saturn about two and a half. Rahu entered Mithuna on 24 December 1981, carrying the eclipse axis with it.
Related Calculators
Frequently asked questions about the Jain Calendar 1981
How many festivals and vrats does the Jain Calendar list in 1981?
The Jain Calendar lists 44 dates in 1981, of which 29 are vrats. The first is Rohini Vrat on Saturday, 17 January 1981, and the last is Rohini Vrat on Friday, 11 December 1981.
When was Paryushan in 1981?
Paryushan began on Wednesday, 26 August 1981 and closed on Samvatsari, Wednesday, 2 September 1981.
The Digambara Das Lakshana Parva began on Thursday, 3 September 1981.
When was Mahavir Jayanti in 1981?
Mahavir Swami Jayanti fell on Friday, 17 April 1981 (Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi), the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira.
When was Mahavir Nirvana in 1981?
Mahavir Nirvana was observed on Tuesday, 27 October 1981, the same day as Diwali.
The Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat) began the next morning, Wednesday, 28 October 1981.
What are the main festival dates in the Jain Calendar for 1981?
The main observances in 1981 are:
- Mahavir Jayanti - Friday, 17 April 1981
- Paryushan - Wednesday, 26 August 1981
- Samvatsari - Wednesday, 2 September 1981
- Mahavir Nirvana - Tuesday, 27 October 1981
Which month of 1981 has the most observances in the Jain Calendar?
October 1981 is the fullest month with 6 dates, including Ashwina Navapada Oli Begins, Ashwina Navapada Oli Ends, Rohini Vrat, Mahavir Nirvana (Diwali), Jain New Year (Vira Nirvana Samvat), Bhai Dooj (Bhratri Dwitiya).
Which traditional year does 1981 correspond to in the Jain Calendar?
The Gregorian year 1981 spans Vikram Samvat 2037 – 2038. The traditional year does not begin on 1 January, so one Gregorian year usually covers the end of one era year and the start of the next.
Did 1981 have an Adhik Maas?
No. 1981 had twelve lunar months with no Adhik Maas, so its festival dates fall in their usual Gregorian window rather than being pushed later by an intercalary month.
Were there any eclipses in 1981?
1981 had 4 eclipses:
- 20 January 1981 - Penumbral lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 5 February 1981 - Annular solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), not visible from India
- 17 July 1981 - Partial lunar eclipse (Chandra Grahan), not visible from India
- 31 July 1981 - Total solar eclipse (Surya Grahan), visible in India, so Sutak Kaal was observed
Sutak Kaal is observed only for an eclipse actually visible where you are, so 1 of these was kept in India.
Did Guru or Shani change sign in 1981?
Yes - 1 sign change among the slow grahas in 1981:
- Guru (Jupiter) entered Tula on 27 October 1981
Jupiter takes about a year to cross one sign and Saturn about two and a half, so these transits colour the whole year rather than a single week.
Are these 1981 dates the same everywhere?
The dates follow the standard Indian sunrise-based calendar. Because a tithi begins and ends at a fixed moment rather than at midnight, an observance can fall a day earlier or later where sunrise differs - most noticeably outside India. Set your city in the box at the top to see the start and end times in your own local time, and check the daily Panchang for the exact window on the day.
About the Jain Calendar
A month-by-month list of the significant Jain festivals and fasting (upvas) days - Paryushan and Samvatsari, Mahavir Jayanti, the twelve Rohini Vrats, the Ashtahnika and Navpad Oli parvas, the Chaumasi Chaudas, Varshi Tap and Mahavir Nirvana - with the date and tithi of each.
Each entry lists the festival or vrat with its date, the prevailing tithi, and a short note on the observance. Use the year links to plan ahead into the coming years or to look up a date from the archive.
This list is the festival dates, not the daily five limbs. For sunrise, Rahu Kalam and the day's yoga, open the Panchang. Other calendars are on the Calendars index. The story of a fast is under Vrat Katha.
