Mahavir Jayanti celebration marks the celebration of the birthday of Lord Mahavir by the Jain community. Read on to know about the significance of Mahavir Jayanti. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Mahavir, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the Jain community. Vardhamana Mahavir was the founder of the Jain religion or the sect and is also believed to be the last of the Tirthankaras or the incarnation of the supreme Lord. Some Hindus consider him to be an incarnate of Lord Vishnu too. He was born in 599 BC in the royal family of Vaishali in the first month of Vaisakh. His father was Siddharta, and his mother was Trishala Devi, also known as Priyakarani. They happened to be very devout disciples of Paraswanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara. In this articleThe Life of Lord MahavirThe RenunciationCelebration of Mahavir JayantiThe Fourfold Path to SalvationThe Life of Lord MahavirMahavir was a much loved prince of the kingdom of Vaishali and there are many stories revolving on how able he was as a prince. He was unknown to fear and there were numerous instances of his immense courage and bravery and the desire and dedication to overcome every obstacle, be it in any form. It was precisely his fearless nature that earned him the name of Mahavir, or the supreme fearless one. He not only had an excellent physical prowess, but an unmatched intellectual wisdom as well. The RenunciationBy the time Mahavir attained the age of thirty, he attained enlightenment and renounced the life of a prince. He stepped out of the luxuries of the palace and decided to undertake the life of austere penance till the time that he achieved the absolute realisation or the supreme knowledge. There were innumerable instances of suffering waiting to test his resolute nature and Mahavir overcame all with his resolve. There was rain, storm, sun and the winter chill that bore havoc on his physical well being and Mahavir even had to face hardships of human assailants too. But he succeeded in fulfilling his resolve and finally attained enlightenment and became the illumined one after living the life of tremendous hardship for twelve long years.Celebration of Mahavir JayantiMahavir Jayanti is basically observed by remembering the life of penance of a redeemer. After becoming the illumined one, Lord Mahavir held numerous sermons as he preached the path to salvation to his many followers. The faith of Jainism spread far and wide and people began to realise the necessity and essence of leading a fulfilling life free from all aspects that contaminate the well being of the soul and most importantly living a life free from every form of violence.The Fourfold Path to SalvationThe preaching of Lord Mahavir comprised of the essential fourfold path that lead to salvation of the human soul and free it from all suffering. They are:Ahimsa or non-injury to every living being on earth.Asteya or non-stealing of every possible object.Brahmacharya or abstinence from sexual pleasures in order to control temperament. Aparigraha or non-acquisition of property.It can be observed that these four are the very essential factors that potentially draw the human soul into the dungeaon of wrong doing and sin. It was therefore preached by Mahavir and observed as a principle of Jainism that a man should follow this fourfold path with strictness so that he is redeemed from the cycle of birth and rebirth and thus attain salvation. The spiritual discipline recommended and observed by devout Jains are of very high order and this has often led them to lead a sort of segregated life from the mainstream society due to its stringent practices. On the years that followed Jainism has seen the division of sects amongst their religion, that is, the Shwetamvaras and the Digamvaras. The first is a less astute one, while the latter follow the most stringent form of the religion. It has been observed that though Jainism is currently a very restricted community across the world, but people who vow allegiance to this faith follow the principles of their founder with great devotion. After all the entire Jain philosophy is of very high spiritual order and it takes a good amount of dedication to lead a life as per the recommended principles. It is a huge test of character and one should honour the philosophy for showing the path to realise the truth of human life and its essence of existence.
Mahavir Jayanti celebration marks the celebration of the birthday of Lord Mahavir by the Jain community. Read on to know about the significance of Mahavir Jayanti. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Mahavir, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the Jain community. Vardhamana Mahavir was the founder of the Jain religion or the sect and is also believed to be the last of the Tirthankaras or the incarnation of the supreme
Lord. Some Hindus consider him to be an incarnate of Lord Vishnu too. He was born in 599 BC in the royal family of Vaishali in the first month of Vaisakh. His father was Siddharta, and his mother was Trishala Devi, also known as Priyakarani. They happened to be very devout disciples of Paraswanatha, the twenty-third Tirthankara.
The Life of Lord Mahavir
Mahavir was a much loved prince of the kingdom of Vaishali and there are many stories revolving on how able he was as a prince. He was unknown to fear and there were numerous instances of his immense courage and bravery and the desire and dedication to overcome every obstacle, be it in any form. It was precisely his fearless nature that earned him the name of Mahavir, or the supreme fearless one. He not only had an excellent physical prowess, but an unmatched intellectual wisdom as well.
The Renunciation
By the time Mahavir attained the age of thirty, he attained enlightenment and renounced the life of a prince. He stepped out of the luxuries of the palace and decided to undertake the life of austere penance till the time that he achieved the absolute realisation or the supreme knowledge. There were innumerable instances of suffering waiting to test his resolute nature and Mahavir overcame all with his resolve. There was rain, storm, sun and the winter chill that bore havoc on his physical well being and Mahavir even had to face hardships of human assailants too. But he succeeded in fulfilling his resolve and finally attained enlightenment and became the illumined one after living the life of tremendous hardship for twelve long years.
Celebration of Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti is basically observed by remembering the life of penance of a redeemer. After becoming the illumined one, Lord Mahavir held numerous sermons as he preached the path to salvation to his many followers. The faith of Jainism spread far and wide and people began to realise the necessity and essence of leading a fulfilling life free from all aspects that contaminate the well being of the soul and most importantly living a life free from every form of violence.
The Fourfold Path to Salvation
The preaching of Lord Mahavir comprised of the essential fourfold path that lead to salvation of the human soul and free it from all suffering. They are:
- Ahimsa or non-injury to every living being on earth.
- Asteya or non-stealing of every possible object.
- Brahmacharya or abstinence from sexual pleasures in order to control temperament.
- Aparigraha or non-acquisition of property.
It can be observed that these four are the very essential factors that potentially draw the human soul into the dungeaon of wrong doing and sin. It was therefore preached by Mahavir and observed as a principle of Jainism that a man should follow this fourfold path with strictness so that he is redeemed from the cycle of birth and rebirth and thus attain salvation. The spiritual discipline recommended and observed by devout Jains are of very high order and this has often led them to lead a sort of segregated life from the mainstream society due to its stringent practices.
On the years that followed Jainism has seen the division of sects amongst their religion, that is, the Shwetamvaras and the Digamvaras. The first is a less astute one, while the latter follow the most stringent form of the religion.
It has been observed that though Jainism is currently a very restricted community across the world, but people who vow allegiance to this faith follow the principles of their founder with great devotion. After all the entire Jain philosophy is of very high spiritual order and it takes a good amount of dedication to lead a life as per the recommended principles. It is a huge test of character and one should honour the philosophy for showing the path to realise the truth of human life and its essence of existence.
