NEWS

Mahavir Jayanti celebrated on 14 April 2022

DETAILS

MAHAVIR JAYANTI

• Most auspicious festivals in the Jain community
• Marks the birth of Vardhamana Mahavira
• 13th day of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra
• Usually celebrated during the month of March or April.
• A procession is called with the idol of Lord Mahavira called the Rath Yatra.
• Reciting stavans or Jain prayers, statues of the lord are given a ceremonial bath called abhisheka

LORD MAHAVIRA

• Born in 540 BC in the Vajji kingdom(Vaishali in Bihar)
• Father was Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Mother Queen Trishala, a Lichchhavi princess
• Belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty.
• Was named Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”.
• Abandoned worldly life at the age of 30 and attained ‘kaivalya’ or omniscience at the age of 42.
• Taught ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-attachment) to his disciples and his teachings were called Jain Agamas.
• Ordinary people were able to understand the teachings of Mahavira and his followers because they used Prakrit.
• It is believed that the Mahavira passed away and attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at the age of 72 in 468 BC at a place called Pavapuri near modern Rajgir in Bihar.