Mahavir Jayanti

 

Mahavir Jayanti

Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana.M Mahavir Jayanti is the most important Jain festival. Mahavirswami is twenty-fourth Tirthankar. He was born in 599 BC at Kshatriyakund near modern Patna in Bihar. His father, King Siddhartha, and his mother, Queen Trishla, were very religious people and followers of Lord Parshwanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar. The Queen Trishla predictable child she had 14 beautiful dreams (some believe sixteen dreams). If the scholars were asked about the dreams they said she was an extraordinary child. , One that will be the path to true happiness for mankind.

About Mahavira, his Birth and explanation

According to Jain mythology, Mahavir had acquired all the necessary qualities to become a Tirthankara in his previous life. Six months before birth, made the supreme authority of a nice atmosphere and leading to Mahavir's birth, which was a great character. Gods and goddesses came down to bestow his blessings on Tirthankara's expectant mother, and to satisfy their needs. Wealth was showered from heaven, which exempts everyone from poverty and extend the superior atmosphere.

Just before Mahavir was born, his mother had 16 dreams. Mahavir was born in the morning, which is considered very promising in Jainism and Hinduism.

Trishla (Mahavir mother)sixteen dreams were:

·         A white elephant

·         A lion

·         Goddess Lakshmi with two elephants at her side showering flowers

·         The moon lighting the universe with silvery beams

·         A pair of jumping fish

·         The radiant sun, a golden pitcher

·         A lake full of lotus flowers

·         A calm ocean of milk

·         A celestial palace

·         A throne of rubies and diamonds

·         A celestial king ruling the earth

·         A garland

·         A white bull

·         A fragrant Mandara flowers

·         and a vase as tall as Mount Meru, filled with gems.

·         And immediately after this, she felt a white elephant enter her through her mouth. She also didn't feel any pain associated with childbirth.

It is believed that at the correct moment of his birth, life forms in all the three worlds were cheerful and content. Several gods and goddesses from the sky to pay homage to Tirthankara. They bathed him ceremonially and named him Vardhaman, Vir, Mahavira, Ativira and Samvati. The child was of outstanding beauty and developed great physical and mental strength. At the age of 13, Mahavir renounced the material world, and sat for meditation. After 12 years of meditation under an Ashoka tree, also called Jonesia Ashoka, he achieved the ultimate enlightenment. The divine gods witnessed this great event, and carried him in a palanquin to a park where he was put on a five-tiered throne and acknowledged as Mahavira. Here he stripped himself of all his clothes. Instead of shaving his head, he tore his hair from the roots, for he was above pain. The Digambaras, Mahavir wore no clothes then, but Svetambaras believe that Indra gave him a white robe.

About Jainism

The term Jain is derived from Jina, which means that the Conqueror. Jainism rests on the three fold path right conduct, right faith and right knowledge. It is not believe in a God who forgives the sins of their worshipers. It teaches practitioners to take full responsibility for his actions, which is the basis for the Karma theory. It teaches the followers to live a very austere life, in an attempt to clear its debt to humanity and also achieve the highest form of salvation.

The devout followers of this religion does not even hurt a fly. Some followers cover their mouths with a small cloth, to avoid the slightest chance to kill bacteria in breathing. It was this doctrine of nonviolence (ahimsa), adopted and popularized by Mahatma Gandhi during the freedom struggle.

Ainism can be divided into two sects - the Jains Shwetamabara (ones wear simple white clothes) and Digamabara Jains, who practice the most extreme form of asceticism by not adorn any clothes on their bodies. Both of these schools follow closely the teachings Mahavira, known as Jina, or conqueror.

His Teachings

Mahavir Jayanti Mahavira taught that people can save their souls from the pollution of substance by living a life of great plainness and by practicing non-violence towards all living beings. The defense of non-violence, confident his followers - monastic and lay - to be strong advocates of vegetarianism. Mahavira's followers were aided in their quest for salvation by the five mahavatars. Ascribed to Mahavira, lift these great was the renunciation of killing, speaking untruths, out of greed, of sexual pleasure, and of all attachments to living beings and non-living things.

Sects

The most important sects now Digambaras and Shvetambaras, with the latter further divided into Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. Deravasis While visiting temples and worship the statue of Mahavir, the Sthanakvasis emphasize the internalization of the faith. Mahavir himself was against idolatry.

Digambaras and Shvetambaras

    Around the year 80 AD the Jains split into two sects:

Digambaras (clothed space) and Shvetambaras (dressed in white). Digambaras determine that sadhus should be naked as a sign of total renunciation. Other doctrines held by the Digambaras but rejected by the Shvetambaras are: 1. Only men can achieve the final liberation (moksha), women must be reborn as men. 2 Pictures of Tirthankars must be represented with eyes cast down, naked and unadorned. 3. Mahavir never married. 4 Once the highest state of knowledge is reached, a holy life can keep without eating, and 5. By the 2nd century the canon holy books were lost.

THE SIGNIFICANCE

Mahavir Jayanti is observed on the 13th day of the month of Chaitra according to Hindu calendar. This day is celebrated, not with pomp and festivities, but with a prayer and worship, in accordance with the Saint Mahavir doctrine of austerity and renunciation.

Jain religious leaders spend the day in solitude, while the rest of the Jain people organize peaceful marches, children act out stories from the life and times of Saint Mahavir. Mahavir Jayanti is observed particularly in places like Old Delhi, Gujarat and Rajasthan, which consists of a large Jain population. At certain places (like the highly revered shrines of Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat, Bihar and Pawanpuri Parasnath temple in Calcutta), the day is celebrated with much joy and enthusiasm. Mahavir Jayanti is widely regarded as beneficial across the country.

Celebrations

On the day of Mahavir Jayanthi (birth anniversary), many community members make offer of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to tirthankar. Some parts of society, even participate in a grand procession.