The Jains around the world celebrate the 13th day of Hindu month of Chaitra as Mahavir Jayanti.
The Jains on the 13th day of Hindu month of Chaitra offer prayers, carry out rath yatras and visit temples, to commemorate Mahavir Jayanti, the birth anniversary of the 24 and the last Tirthankar (teaching god who preaches dharma) of Jainism. The Jain community in Mumbai is organising a Maha-aarti on Wednesday to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti, the Sakal Digambar Jain Samaj organised a procession in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday carrying Lord Mahavir’s idol in a decorated chariot, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended a function in Nagpur to unfurl the flag of Jain Community on Tuesday and the locals in Gujarat are conducting abhisheka on statues of Mahavira.
Background
Mahavira, or Vardhaman as he was initially known, was born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala of the Ikshvaku dynasty, in 599 BC at Kshatriyakund in Bihar.
The Calling
His parents were followers of Parshvanatha (23 Tirthankar of Jainism), that laid the grounds for his orientation towards spiritual life. It is believed that when Vardhaman was in the womb of his mother, she had 14 dreams of him becoming a Tirthankar.
Possessor of Infinite Knowledge
The Jain scriptures of Uttar-purāņa and Harivamśa-purāņa state that he attained enlightenment at the age of 42 under an Ashoka tree, post which he became Kevala Jnana (omniscience or the possessor of infinite knowledge).
The Ideology
Jainism as a religion believes in liberation of soul, and it is said that when Mahavira decided to renounce the worldly pleasures at the age of 30 to live a spiritual life, he discarded his clothes too.
Mahavira cannot be credited as the founder of the religion unlike Gautam Buddha is for Buddhism. However, Mahavira laid down the ideology for Digambars (a sect of Jainism), who believe in strict penance by punishing self and body and nudity.
Five-fold way of life
Mahavira devoted all his life towards preaching the five-fold way of life: Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha.
Attainment of Moksha
After having preached the gospel of universal love, wherein he said that all living beings are equal, and thus needs to be loved and respected, he attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at the age of 72 in 527 B.C.
Since, Mahavira devoted his life to teach spiritual freedom, the followers of Jainism across the world celebrate this day to honour his philosophy.
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 "Vardhaman Mahavir Mahavir Jayanti Jainism")
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