Navapad Oli starts in the middle of Navratri-Hindu festival of India.
Both of Navapad Oli falls among five Shaswata Atthai of Jain. Rest of three Atthai are Chaturmasik Atthai (Thrice in a year).
Jain performs Ayambil Tapa for nine days to salute these nine supreme posts in the universe. Ayambil (Ayambila) is special type of fast in that one eats only boiled grains that too once in a day. It is not permitted to add anything including salt to the boiled grains. Hence, it is very difficult for a layman to perform Ayambil Tap.
The earth moves round the sun and duration of days and nights are constantly changing round the year. Duration of a day and a night in India are almost equal during March-April and September-October. These are the days of Navapad Oli. As the duration of days and nights are almost equal, the nature lives in equilibrium in these days. These neither are scorching heat nor chill cold. These are also moderate seasons, perfectly suitable for worshiping supreme powers of the universe.
Navapad Oli in Chaitra comes in the beginning of summer and end of the winter. Similarly Navapad Oli in Ashwin comes in the beginning of winter and end of the summer. Both seasons are crucial for our mental and physical health. Devotion and Navpad prayer keeps us mentally healthy whereas Ayambil (fast) and other penance energize us to fight with diseases and keeps us healthy physically.
Nava means nine in Sanskrit and Prakrit languages and Pada means post. Hence the word Navapada (That is generally spelled in English as Navpad) means nine supreme posts of the universe.
These nine are Arihant, Siddha, Acharya, Upadhyaya, Sadhu, Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnyan, Samyag Charitra and Samyag Tapa (Austerity).
Navapad is also called Siddha Chakra. This is a Yantra in circular shape in that Siddha is placed on the top. Arihant is placed in the center and Acharya at the right side of Arihant. Upadhyaya is placed in the lower side and Sadhu in the left side of Arihant. Samyag Darshan, Samyag Jnyan, Samyag Charitra and Samyag Tapa are placed in four corners starting from upper right corner and then moving clock wise.
Generally the first five (Panch Parameshthi) are placed in shape of idols and the next four by name only.
