A Brief History of Mahavir Jayanti
For Jains, Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, also known as Mahavir Jayanti, is the most fortunate day of the year. The day is marked all over the world by Jain people to remember the last spiritual leader of Jainism.
This festival is one of a kind because it is enjoyed in the most humble and simple way possible. Many Jain groups across the country hold very religious events to honor the birth of Saint Mahavir. A chariot pulls an idol of Lord Mahavir as part of an event called Rath Yatra. About how to say holy lines. The Abhishek is a sacred oil that is put on statues of Lord Mahavir. Most people in the Jain community do some kind of good deed, pray, do pujas, or fast on this fortunate day. In temples, monks and nuns give talks about the road of virtue that Lord Mahavir laid out. A huge number of Jain followers usually go to India’s ancient Jain temples to pay their respects and join in the events.
Have you ever thought about the history of this event of peace and nonviolence, though?
In the Hindu calendar, Mahavir was born in Kundalagrama, Bihar, on the 13th day of the Chaitra month. This is also known as the 13th day of the rising moon in the Chaitra month. He was born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala. There is some disagreement about his birth date, though. Swetambar Jains think he was born in 599 BC, while Digambar Jains think he was born in 615 BC. Legend has it that Lord Mahavir was born to Devananda, who was married to the Brahmin Rishabhdeva. By some miracle, the embryo was moved to Trisala’s womb. Astrologers thought that Trisala’s 16 dreams before Mahavir was born meant that a great soul was going to come into the world. The child did grow up to be a great man. At first, Lord Mahavir was married, but at the age of 30, he gave up all worldly joys and became an ascetic in order to find greater truth and reach Nirvana.
People all over the country celebrate Mahavir Jayanti, the day that Lord Mahavir was born, as one of the best days of the year. A lot of people in Lord Mahavir’s time were moved by the spiritual power and moral greatness of his lessons. Many people were moved to follow his way after he made Jainism, a religion with many complicated rituals, easy to understand. People will always remember his words and teachings about love for everyone.
People think of Lord Mahavir as one of the best and most important prophets of peace and social change. Educating people about Jainism was his job, just like his mentor, Teerthankara Parshvanatha. Lord Mahavir preached about freedom and nonviolence, and many people were moved by his ideas. He came up with five steps that every family should take. They are “Ahimsa,” “Asteya,” “Brahmacharya,” “Satya,” and “Aparigraha.” The Jains take these vows so that they can live in peace. According to Lord Mahavir, his lessons were based on scientific explanations of life and the world. Not just Jain communities still follow his lessons today; other groups do too.
People try to remember what Lord Mahavir taught them on this day and also promise that they will not hurt anyone in the future, whether they know it or not. The problems and difficulties that Lord Mahavir had show what a unique and wonderful person he was.
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