When is Mahavir
Jayanti Celebrated?
Celebrated
during the Hindu lunar month of Chaitra, festivities last for one day.
Mahavir Jayanti occurs on the thirteenth day of Chaitra, right around
the time of the full moon. Chaitra is equivalent to the months of
March and April.
Where is
Mahavir Jayanti Celebrated?
Mahavir Jayanti
is celebrated widely throughout the Jain community. Due to the high
numbers of Jains in Rajasthan and Gujarat, most celebrations are seen
in these states.
However, those that follow Jainism travel to recognized Jain shrines
to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti. In Gujarat, the shrines are located at
Girnar and Palitana. Others flock to Mahavirji in Rajasthan.
Lord Mahavira was born in Vaishali, which also hosts a majestic
celebration.
How is
Mahavir Jayanti Celebrated?
- Temples that
host Mahavir Jayanti festivals are decorated with flags to mark
the birthday of Lord Mahavira.
- Each
locality holds a traditional bath (abhishek) for a deity of Lord
Mahavira.
- Following
the bath, the deity is carried in a parade throughout the region.
- Each parade
varies but generally includes drummers, horses, elephants, singers
and lamps.
- Depending on
the region, the parade ends at a temple, shrine or large communal
area where people may pray and meditate.
- Donations
made during Mahavir Jayanti are made in the form of food,
medicines or knowledge.
About Mahavira
Mahavira,
also known as Vardhamana, is the last one in the galaxy of Twenty-four
Teerthankaras (Jain Prophets). He was the son of Siddhartha and
Priyakarani or popularly Trishala Devi - who were deeply permeated
with the philosophy of Jainism preached by Parswanatha, the 23rd
Teerthankara.
Just before
Mahavira was born , His mother had sixteen dreams. Mahavira was born
at four in the morning, which is considered very auspicious in Jainism
and Hinduism.
Her sixteen dreams were:
- A white
elephant
- A lion
- Goddess
Lakshmi with two elephants at her side showering flowers
- The moon
lighting the universe with silvery beams
- A pair of
jumping fish
- The radiant
sun, a golden pitcher
- A lake full
of lotus flowers
- A calm ocean
of milk
- A celestial
palace
- A throne of
rubies and diamonds
- A celestial
king ruling the earth
- A garland
- A white bull
- A fragrant
Mandara flowers
- and a vase
as tall as Mount Meru, filled with gems.
- And
immediately after this, she felt a white elephant enter her
through her mouth. She also didn't feel any pain associated with
childbirth.
It is believed
that at the exact moment of his birth, the life forms in all the three
worlds were cheerful and content. Several gods and goddesses descended
from the heavens to pay homage to the tirthankara. They
Siddhartha The
King
Siddhartha was
the king of Kaundinyapura on the outskirts of Vaishali (near Patna in
Bihar). Even as a boy, Mahavira came
to be associated with many episodes of absolute fearlessness which
earned him the name `Mahavira'. He grew up as a prince, excelling in
physical prowess as well as intellectual acumen. However, he renounced
the pleasures and luxuries of the place, as also the power and
prestige of kingship, and undertook a life of intense penance for more
than twelve years. He calmly bore not only the rigors of nature but
the torments from the ignorant and mischievous among his own
countrymen also. He finally became self-illumined. But not content
with his own personal salvation, he chose to become a great human
redeemer.
He
looked around and found the society corrupted by the distortions of
the true concept of Dharma. Violence in the form of animal sacrifice
had overshadowed the true spirit of yajna and yaga. Spiritual values
had been supplanted by superstitions and lifeless rituals and dogmas.
Propitiating various Gods and Goddesses was considered as a means of
acquiring religious merit - Punya - to the exclusion of the true
spiritual significance of these Vedic practices. Mahavira, with his
penetrating insight born out of self-realization, struck mercilessly
at these perversions. He simplified the religious procedures and
concentrated on righteous conduct.
Mahavira's
Philosophy
Mahavira's
simple and convincing method of appealing to the highest and noblest
impulses won him a large following. He would, for example, pose the
following question in order to bring home the grand message of
non-injury to every living being: "Can you hold a red-hot iron
rod in your hand merely because some one wants you to do
so?" The listeners would instantly reply, "No,
never". Then Mahavira would ask them, "Then, will it be
right on your part to ask others to do the same thing just to satisfy
your desire? If you cannot tolerate infliction of pain on your body or
mind by others' words and actions, what right have you to do the same
to others through your words and deeds?" Mahavira would then sum
up his message: "Do unto others as you would like to be done by.
Injury or violence done by your to any life in any form, animal or
human, is as harmful as it would be if caused to your own self."
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.
As
one deeply conversant with the needs, capacities and aptitudes of
human being, Mahavira initiated a simple five-fold path for the
householders: Ahimsa (Non-injury - physical or mental - to others),
Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (temperance in sexual pleasures)
and Aparigraha (non-acquisition of property).
Mahavira's
injunctions for the monks and nuns were however very exacting.
Abstinence from every kind of physical comfort and material possession
and absolute dedication to the highest ethical and spiritual
discipline were enforced. Even to this day, 2500 years after the
passing away of that great master, this pure and upright tradition of
the monks has been maintained. Thousands of white clad Sanyasins and
Sanyasinis and also nude monks move on foot from village to village
and town to town, throughout the length and breadth of the country,
carrying Mahavira's gospel of peace, non-injury and brotherhood among
people.
Mahavira
died 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.
