MAHAVIR JAYANTI
DESCRIPTION
The Jain community celebrates the
birth anniversary of the 24th and the last Tirthankara, Vardhman Mahavir, the
founder of Jainism as Mahavir Jayanti every year. The birth anniversary of the
24th and the last Tirthankara of the Jains, Vardhman Mahavir, the founder of
Jainism, is celebrated by the Jain community in August. Born a prince in 599
BC, Mahavir renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and undertook austere
penance until he achieved realisation. Mahavir, also known as Vardhamana, is
the last one in the galaxy of Twenty-four Teerthankaras (Jain Prophets). Lord
Mahavir has been acclaimed as one of the greatest prophets of peace and social
reformation that Bharat has ever produced. He was born to a pious couple,
Siddhartha (king of Kaundinyapura on the outskirts of Vaishalinear Patna in
Bihar). and Priyakarani or popularly Trishala Devi – who were deeply permeated
with the philosophy of Jainism preached by Parswanatha, the 23rd Teerthankara.
IMPORTANCE
Mahavir renounced worldly life at
the age of 30 and undertook austere penance until he achieved realisation. Even
as a boy, Mahavira came to be associated with many episodes of absolute
fearlessness which earned him the name `Mahavira’. He grew up as a prince,
excelling in physical prowess and intellectual acumen. He renounced the pleasures
and luxuries of the place, as also the power and prestige of kingship. Lord
Mahavir spread the message of salvation to the world and had many followers.
Mahavir preached non-violence, prohibited any kind of killing and taught his
followers to seek salvation through penance and abstinence. They are also
advised to donate money, clothes and grain to the poor. The Jains are divided
into many sects of whom the main ones are Digambaras and Shvetambaras with the
latter again divided into Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. Mahavira initiated a
simple five-fold path for the householders: Ahimsa (Non-injury – physical or
mental – to others), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (temperance in sexual
pleasures) and Aparigraha (non-acquisition of property). Mahavira’s injunctions
for the monks and nuns were however very exacting.
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