On April 6th Mahavir Jayanti will be celebrated. It is one of the most important festivals celebrated worldwide in the Jain community. This commemorates the birth of Lord Mahavira and is the 24th Tirthankara according to the Jain mythology. Scroll down for the significance and facts about Mahavir Jayanti.
Lord Mahavir is the third child of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala. He was born at Kundalagrama in the Bihar district of Vaishali during 599 B.C.
Image Source – The times of India
Meaning Of Tirthankara
In Jainism, it means a savior and a spiritual teacher. Mahavir Jayanti marks Lord Mahavira’s birthday. Let us mention to you that each year according to the Hindu calendar the date of Mahavir Jayanth changes as it is celebrated the thirteenth day of Chaitra month. This varies among the months of March or April according to the English calendar.
Lord Mahavir Life And Teaching
In the beginning, Mahavira was called Vardhamana and was born in 615 BC according to Digambar School of Jainism, but Swetambaras said he was born in 599 BC. Mahavira lord i.e. To discover the truth in the World, Vardhamana left home. He led an ascetic life, walked, begged for food and wore nothing. After interacting with several persons of various backgrounds and cultures he learned about the world’s sufferings, pains, etc. He then focused his work on fasting and meditation. Also, he finds enlightenment in this process. He emphasizes that humans must eradicate greed in order to put an end to their endless quest for desires. He visited South Asia in order to teach Jain philosophy.
In order to improve the quality of life, he taught how to follow the vow ahimsa (not violent), Satya (truthfulness), asteya (no stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (no attachment). Do you know that Gautama Swami (Chief disciple) compiled the teachings of Lord Mahavira which were known as Jain Agamas?
How is Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated?
On this day, Jainism supporters pray, fast, etc. Holidays in the eastern state of Bihar are mainly common on this day. Jains engage in many events, enabling them to interact and show reverence to LordMahavir as a procession, cleaning idols, visiting temples, donations, etc.
Facts about Lord Mahavir
- Many believe Tirthankara already knew Lord Mahavira before he was born.
- He’s known to be named by five different names.
- He left his kingdom and family when he was thirty years old.
- Lord Mahavira is said to have been meditating for about 12 years.
- He gave five theories of living a stress-free life.
- He organized his followers into a fourfold order consisting of monk (Sadhu), nun (Sadhvi), layman (Shravak), and laywoman (Shravika).
- The main purpose of his teaching is how a person can attain complete emancipation from the cycles of birth, life, suffering, misery, and death. Often, one reach one’s own eternal blissful state of mind. That’s regarded as liberation, nirvana, total freedom, or moksha.
Image Source – NDTV
How Jainism Spread?
Lord Mahavira’s philosophical philosophy has been encompassed by eight cardinal concepts, of which three are metaphysical and five are ethical. He assumed in the Universe’s own nature that it is neither formed nor destructible. According to him, Universe consists of six eternal substances, which are souls, space, time, material atoms, a medium of motion, and a medium of rest. Such elements undergo changes independently to establish the multifaceted world in which mortals live. He also introduced the Anekantavada theory (non-absolutism principle), which relates to the pluralism of life. Indeed, with syadavad or the theory of Seven Fold predictions, the multifaceted truth is better clarified.
Inspirational Quotes By Lord Mahavira
- “Fight with yourself, why fight with external foes? He, who conquers himself through himself, will obtain happiness.”
- “Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.”
- “A man is seated on top of a tree in the midst of a burning forest. He sees all living beings perish. But he doesn’t realize that the same fate is soon going to overtake him also. That man is a fool”
- “All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away.”
- “Don’t accumulate if you do not need it. The excess of wealth in your hands is for the society, and you are the trustee for the same”
So, we may assume that Lord Mahavira was founding the religion of Jainism. He was the last Tirthankara, which marks the anniversary of his birth or Mahavir Jayanti. Yet it adjusts according to the Hindu calendar, which ranges from March to April months.
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