My conclusion

In Jainism, Bees Sthanak (also written as Vish Sthanak or 20 Sthanak) refers to twenty highly sacred categories, positions, or attributes of spiritual practice and divinity. Cultivating and meditating upon these twenty elements is considered the most spiritually potent path to purifying the soul.

🌟 The Connection to Tirthankaras

In Jain philosophy, a soul cannot become a Tirthankara (a supreme, omniscient spiritual teacher) without practicing deep devotion toward these twenty elements. By focusing intensely on these twenty virtues in a previous lifetime, a soul binds the rarest and highest merit known as Tirthankar Naam Karma, ensuring they will be born as a spiritual savior in their final birth.

Here is the complete, comprehensive Vidhi (method and setup) for all 20 Pads of the Bees Sthanak Aradhna.

⚙️ Core General Rules (Applicable to All 20 Pads)

• Fasting Requirement: Every single Pad strictly requires 20 days of fasting (either Upvas or Ayambil). This baseline never changes.
• Daily Rituals: The ritual numbers listed below (Khamasne, Kayotsarg, Swastiks, and Malas) must be performed daily on each of those 20 fasting days.
• Kayotsarg Alternative: If you cannot perform Kayotsarg via the Logassa Sutra, you can substitute it with the Navkar Mantra (typically 4 Navkars = 1 Logassa).

📋 The Complete 20 Bees Sthanak Vidhi Matrix

1. Arihant Pad (The Enlightened Masters)

The number 12 is prominent here because it represents the 12 unique assemblies (parishad) or specific supreme attributes of an Arihant Bhagwan.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambils (spread out over a maximum of 6 months).
• Khamasne (Prostrations): 12 daily (kneeling down and touching the ground with five body parts).
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 12 daily (standing or sitting in absolute stillness while mentally reciting the Logassa Sutra up to the Chandesu Nimmalyara part).
• Swastik & Mala: Drawing 12 clean Swastiks daily with rice, offering fruit/sweets, and chanting 12 rounds of the rosary (Mala) of:
  "Om Hreem Shreem Arham Namah" or "Namo Arihantanam"

2. Siddh Pad (The Liberated Souls)

The number 8 is the focus here, representing the 8 fundamental attributes (Ashta Guna) of a liberated, karma-free soul.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambils.
• Khamasne: 8 daily.
• Kayotsarg: 8 daily Logassa counts.
• Swastik & Mala: 8 Swastiks daily, and 8 Malas chanting:
  "Om Hreem Shreem Siddhebhyo Namah" or "Namo Siddhanam".

3. Pravachan Pad (The Divine Discourses)

Significance: Represents the deep scriptural structure of the Jain canon (Dwadasangi / 12 limbs).

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 12 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 12 daily
• Swastiks: 12 daily
• Mala: 12 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Pravachanaya Namah or Namo Srutassa

4. Guru / Acharya Pad (The Spiritual Leaders)

The number 36 is used, symbolizing the 36 core virtues and responsibilities an Acharya must embody.]

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambils.
• Khamasne: 36 daily.
• Kayotsarg: 36 daily Logassa counts.
• Swastik & Mala: 36 Swastiks daily, and 36 Malas chanting:
  "Om Hreem Shreem Acharyebhyo Namah" or "Namo Aayariyanam".

5. Sthavir Pad (The Elder Ascetics)

Significance: Honors the wisdom of stable, senior monks. Focuses on the core components of the soul.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 5 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 5 daily
• Swastiks: 5 daily
• Mala: 5 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Sthavirebhyo Namah

6. Upadhyay Pad (The Spiritual Teachers)

The number 25 is emphasized, matching the 25 specific scriptural qualities of an Upadhyay. 1, 2

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambils.
• Khamasne: 25 daily.
• Kayotsarg: 25 daily Logassa counts.
• Swastik & Mala: 25 Swastiks daily, and 25 Malas chanting:
  "Om Hreem Shreem Upadhyayebhyo Namah" or "Namo Uvajjayanam". 1

7. Sadhu Pad (The Ascetics)

The number 27 is utilized, representing the 27 distinct virtues practiced daily by a true Jain monk.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambils.
• Khamasne: 27 daily.
• Kayotsarg: 27 daily Logassa counts.
• Swastik & Mala: 27 Swastiks daily, and 27 Malas chanting:
  "Om Hreem Shreem Sarva Sadhubhyo Namah" or "Namo Loe Savva Sahunam". 1

8. Gyan Pad (Pure Spiritual Knowledge)

Significance: Represents the 5 primary forms of knowledge (Mati, Shrut, Avadhi, Manahparyay, Keval).

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 5 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 5 daily
• Swastiks: 5 daily
• Mala: 5 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Nyanaya Namah

9. Darshan Pad (Right Faith / Perception)

Significance: Focuses on the 6 external and internal factors that steady one’s spiritual vision.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 6 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 6 daily
• Swastiks: 6 daily
• Mala: 6 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Darshanaya Namah

10. Charitra Pad (Right Conduct)

Significance: Focuses on the 5 primary vows (Mahavratas) of conduct.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 5 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 5 daily
• Swastiks: 5 daily
• Mala: 5 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Charitraya Namah

11. Vinay Pad (Ultimate Humility)

Significance: Commemorates the 7 types of internal and external humility.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 7 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 7 daily
• Swastiks: 7 daily
• Mala: 7 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Vinayaya Namah

12. Sayam Pad (Self-Restraint)

Significance: Focuses on the 17 types of self-control (Sanyam) over senses and actions.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 17 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 17 daily
• Swastiks: 17 daily
• Mala: 17 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Sanyamaya Namah

13. Tap Pad (Penance and Austerities)

Significance: Represents the 12 types of Jain penances (6 external and 6 internal).

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 12 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 12 daily
• Swastiks: 12 daily
• Mala: 12 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Tapase Namah

14. Abhinav Gyaan Pad (Newly Acquired Wisdom)

Significance: Focuses on internalizing the fundamental 9 Tattvas (realities of life).

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 9 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 9 daily
• Swastiks: 9 daily
• Mala: 9 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Abhinavanyanaya Namah

15. Srut Pad (Scriptural Study)

Significance: Commemorates the 11 original main scriptures (Angas).

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 11 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 11 daily
• Swastiks: 11 daily
• Mala: 11 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Shrutaya Namah

16. Tirth Pad (The Fourfold Community)

Significance: Represents the 4 pillars of the community: Sadhu, Sadhvi, Shravak, Shravika.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 4 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 4 daily
• Swastiks: 4 daily
• Mala: 4 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Teerthaya Namah

17. Kriya Pad (Righteous Spiritual Actions)

Significance: Focuses on the 25 distinct daily rituals and purifications.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 25 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 25 daily
• Swastiks: 25 daily
• Mala: 25 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Kriya Padaya Namah

18. Brahmacharya Pad (Absolute Purity / Celibacy)

Significance: Symbolizes the 10 strict guards or boundary practices of celibacy.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 10 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 10 daily
• Swastiks: 10 daily
• Mala: 10 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Brahmacharyaya Namah

19. Samyaktva Pad (Unwavering Right Belief)

Significance: Represents the 60 major and minor attributes that polish true soul-belief.

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 60 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 60 daily
• Swastiks: 60 daily
• Mala: 60 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Samyaktvaya Namah

20. Pravachan Kushal Pad (Spiritual Teaching Mastery)

Significance: Represents the 8 essential keys to beautifully delivering and expanding the Jin-vani (teachings).

• Fasting: 20 Upvas or Ayambil
• Khamasne: 8 daily
• Kayotsarg (Logassa): 8 daily
• Swastiks: 8 daily
• Mala: 8 daily rounds of:
  Om Hreem Shreem Pravachan-Kushalata-Padaya Namah

📝 Important Execution Notes

• Order of Execution: Devotees traditionally follow the numeric order from 1 to 20, though some communities or health situations allow custom sequences under a Guru’s guidance.
• The Swastik Base: Rice is uniformly used to draw these Swastiks on the Paat (wooden board) during the puja rituals.
• Udyapan (Grand Finale): Once all 400 fasts across the 20 pads are completed over the years, a grand celebration ritual called Udyapan or Bees Sthanak Oli Prabhavana is organized to conclude the spiritual journey.

🧘 Ritual Practices: Tap and Aradhna

Laypeople actively worship these attributes through two major practices:

• Bees Sthanak Tap: A specialized, lengthy series of austerities and fasts (tapasya) dedicated sequentially to each of the 20 positions. The core aim of this tap is to burn away deep-seated karmas and dissolve inner mental blockages.
• Bees Sthanak Kriya & Pooja: Specific daily rituals, postures, and meditative prayers designed to focus the mind entirely on the characteristics of these 20 divine qualities.

📅 The Core Duration Formula

The timeframe is calculated mathematically based on the 20 distinct Sthanaks (attributes/positions):

• 20 Fasts Per Sthanak: You must perform 20 individual fasts for each of the 20 holy attributes.
• 400 Total Fasts: Multiplied together (20 × 20), the entire ritual comprises 400 fast days.
• The Six-Month Rule: For each individual Sthanak, the 20 required fasts are traditionally spread out and completed within a maximum window of six months.

⏱️ Total Time to Complete the Tap

Because a person must pause to recover between fasts and cannot fast continuously for 400 days straight, the practical timeline varies:

• Standard Timeline: If a devotee performs the fasts continuously section by section (taking roughly 6 months for each of the 20 phases), the tap takes approximately 10 years to conclude.
• Flexible Timeline: Depending on a person’s age, health, and local community guidance, a guru may grant permission to pace the fasts more slowly. Many laypeople take anywhere from 10 to 20 years to officially complete all 400 fasts.

🍽️ Types of Fasts Allowed

Devotees do not completely starve for years. The 400 fast days are broken up by normal eating days and usually consist of a combination of three Jain fasting styles:

1. Upvas: Complete fasting for 24 hours (consuming only boiled water during daylight).
2. Ekasana: Consuming only one simple, stationary meal a day.
3. Ayambil: Eating only one meal a day that is completely plain—boiled without any oil, ghee, milk, curd, sugar, spices, or green vegetables.