Published on: April 15, 2022

MAHAVIR JAYANTI

MAHAVIR JAYANTI

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.