Mahaveer- crusader of non-violence

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enarada

Bangalore, April 23, 2013:

Mahavira Jayanth carries great significance for the Jain community as it marks the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira the 24th and last thirthankara.

Mahavir is the last and the greatest Tirthankar of the Jain religion, and Mahavir Jayanti is the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara.

The two sects of Jainism, Svetambaras and Digambaras, however, do not come to a consensus on the date of His birth. According to the Digambara sect, his birth took place in 615 BC, whereas the Svetembaras claim that it occurred in 599 BC.

He was born as the prince to King Siddartha and Queen Trisala in Vaishali, Bihar- a few miles from present Patna city. His parents named him Vardhaman.

Vardhamana lived as a prince. But, in his early years he developed a deep interest in the core beliefs of Jainism and started meditating.

At the age of 30, Lord Mahavira relinquished material possessions and spent twelve years in rigorous abstinence. While enduring the penance, he controlled his senses. His courage and exemplary action in controlling the senses earned him the name Mahavira.

He spent most of his time meditating and preaching non-violence to people and also showed utmost reverence to all living beings. He taught people to renounce the earthly pleasure and search for ultimate happiness or moksha.

Mahavira’s emphasis on this `Unity of Life’ forms one of the highest saving principles of human life. The modern civilization, which seeks to exploit and destroy every other kind of living species in order to satiate the never ending cravings of man, is landing the entire human species itself in a deadly peril.

Mahavira left his mortal coils at the age of 71 on the Deepavali day. But the lamp of peace which he lit continues to glow through the myriad lights of that Festival of Lights.

His teachings are more relevent today with  terrorism and violence spreaing all over the  world.

According to the Hindu calendar, Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated on the 13th day of the month of Chaitra. On this significant day, Pilgrims throng the shrines and temples to celebrate this auspicious day. Devotees offer ceremonial bath, known as ‘abhishek’, to Mahavira’s idol. The temples are lavishly decorated with flags.

Lectures are typically held in temples to preach the path of virtue as defined by Jain doctrine. Donations are collected in order to promote charitable missions like saving cows from slaughter or helping to feed poor people.

Ancient Jain temples across India typically see an extremely high volume of practitioners come to pay their respects and join in the celebrations.

Majestic chariot processions are also carried out with the images followed by millions of devotees while chanting prayers. Traditional dishes are prepared on this particular day and alms are offered to the poor. ENN.

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Another Report by--Dr. H.A.Parshwanath

MAHAVIR JAYANTHI

(Published in the monthly e-magazine ‘Jaina Voice’ in April 2005 issue) This magazine is published by the popular Jain website www.jainheritagecentres.com

Sixth century B.C. was the eventful period in the history of the world. It revolutionised the terrestrial and celestial worlds due to the birth of great doyens such as Lord Mahavir and Lord Buddha in India, Sukaratha in Greece, Zorathustra in Persia, Conficious in China and Yahudis in Palestine. The other luminaries born during the period included Poorna Kashyapa, Makkhali Ghoshala, Ajitha Keshakambali, Pakudha Katyayana and Sanjaya Belatti. However These luminaries extinguished with out any traces. But Lord Mahavir survived and revived Jainism.

Lord Mahavir was born as the 24th prophet at Koundanyapura (Kundapura or Kundagrama village) in the kingdom of Magadha in the northern part of the present day Bihar state on March 27th 598 B.C. (the Chaitra Shudda Triodashi day of Uttara Phalguna Nakshatra, Kanya Rashi). Kundupura is the present Basada village in Muzzafarnagar district of Bihar. His father was Siddartha (also called Shreyamsa and Yashamsa) and the mother was Trishala Devi, the daughter of Chetaka an eminent Lichchavi noble of Vaishali. They were the followers of the tradition of Parshwanath the 23rd prophet. Vishali the present Vasada was the republic state of ancient India. Vaishali was situated adjacent to the banks of the river Gandaki. Trishaladevi was also called by other names such as Priyakarini and Videhadatta who belonged to Vashishta gothra (family tree). She dreamt sixteen dreams signaling the birth of a great personality. Bhavanapathy, Vyantara, Jyotishka and Vimanavasi, the Gods and Goddesses adored the child Mahavir with flowers, gold and emeralds. Indra and Indrani arrived from heaven at Kundalapura. Indrani brought the child and placed in the hands of Devendra. He carried the child to the Sumeru mountain and worshiped it with abhishkeha and celebrated the birth of the tirthankara with pomp and glory. The people of Magadha kingdom rejoiced his birth. The kingdom flourished exuberantly and the prosperity of the people grew in leaps and bounds soon after his birth. Hence his father Siddartha named him as Vardhaman. The naming ceremony was celebrated in the palace with grandeur. He was studious, well built and courageous even as a child. He controlled the raged elephants and serpents and also the human conflicts and hence was called Mahavir.  Sanjaya and Vijaya the Charana munis were content with the glowing erudition of Mahavir and called him Sanmathi. Mahavir possessed in explicable talent and treat since the time of his birth. He was an embodiment of perfection and talent of virtues. He didn’t possess any inclination or passion for worldly wealth and pleasures and hence relinquished these.

Mahavir had the glorious past with regard to religion. He was a born Kshatriya. He belonged to Kashyapa gothra. Mahavir was also called Jnathru, Jnathaputra and Jnathrukulotpanna as he was born in the famous Jnathru clan. He became as ascetic at the age of thirty, practiced it rigorously for 12 years and attained kaivalya (sumprmacy of knowledge and the final deliverance from the bonds of pleasure and pain) at the age of 42.Vardhaman Mahavir reorganized the religion and preached celibacy as one of the doctrines of Jainism to the previously existing four doctrines of nonviolence, truthfulness, no possessiveness and non stealing as preached by Lord Parshwanath. He traveled through different parts of India and enlightened the people.

The eternal message of Lord Mahavir influenced and revolutionised the lives of the people and made their births sublime. He released the people from the bondages of exploitation, inequality and magnified their thoughts. His concept of Live and Let Live has paved the way for the fruitful living of people. The birth of Mahavir is observed with reverence and devotion by his followers across the globe as Mahavir Janma Kalyana or Mahavir Jayanthi.

 

 

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