Pupuji Koul
Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most important festivals of Jainism and Jains celebrate this festival every year in the Hindu calendar month of Chaitra Shukal Paksh with great enthusiasm and simplicity. The day is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavira.This festival of Jain community usually falls in the month of March/April. This year Mahavir Jayanti will be celebrated today on 4th of April 2023, Tuesday that in Local Hindu Calendar is Chaitra Skual Paksh Triyodashi thiti.It is celebrated with great zeal in India and across the world. It celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the twenty fourth and last Tirthankara (Supreme Preacher) of the present Avasarpini. According to Jain texts, Mahavir was born on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra in the year 599 BC. Most modern historians consider Kundagram which is today’s Kundalpur in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar as his birth place. Mahavir was named as Vardhaman, meaning one who grows because of increased propensity. He was born to king Siddratha and Queen Trisala in Vaishali Bihar, a few miles from present Patna city. It is celebrated to honor and revere the Jain philosophy propounded by Vardhaman Mahvir who is the founder of Jainism and his Jayanti is celebrated to remember this messenger of peace, love and non violence. Mahavir lived as a prince. But in his early years he developed a deep interest in the core beliefs of Jainism and started mediating. At the age of 30 he renounced the throne and his family to seek spiritual truth and spent twelve years as an ascetic. He spent most of his time mediating and preaching non violence to people and also showed utmost reverence to all living beings. Mahavira chose an extremely ascetic life. While enduring penance, he controlled his senses. His courage and exemplary action in controlling senses earned him the name Mahavira. And he devoted the rest of his life preaching the truth of spiritual freedom. Thus Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated every year to commemorate his preaching and Jain philosophy. Mahavir Jayanti is an auspicious occasion for Jain community. Jain followers visit temples and offer ceremonial bath Known as Abhishek, to Mahavir’s idol. Jain temples are lavishly decorated with flags to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira. Majestic chariot processions are also carried out with images followed by millions of devotees chanting prayers. Traditional dishes are prepared on this particular day and alms are offered to the needy and poor. On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti sermons are also held in shrines or temples to preach and propagate the philosophy of spiritual freedom and virtue. Important chapters from the life of Mahavira are read out to the devotees that also contain biographies of Jain Tirthankars. Devotees and followers of Jainism send Mahavir Jayanti messages to relive the great teachings and life of Lord Mahavira. Amazing Mahavir Jayanti e-cards and Mahavir Jayanti SMS are shared with friends and family to celebrate the holy occasion. On the great occasion of Mahavir Jayanti people refresh the teachings and messages of Vardhaman Mahavir. The festival is always conducted without any grand celebration or extravaganza concerning the principles of Jainism. The worship rituals are also not elaborate. Since their leaders and founder did not believe in idol worship. Mahavir Jayanti this year is being celebrated April 4, 2023.According to the religious scripts and Jain texts, Lord Mahavira was born on Chaitra month on 13th day of the waxing moon in Kundalagrama, Bihar which is just a few kilometers away from Patna. However there is still a dispute about the year of his birth. According to the Digambar Jains, he was born in 615 BC. While Shwetambar Jains consider it to be in 566BC.Mahavira preached non -violence during his time and treated every person with reverence. People gave him the name ‘Mahavira ‘after observing his incredible sense-controlling skills. The Jains believe that he attained nirvana at 72 years of his age. The Jain communities all over the world celebrate Mahavir Jayanti. Although the community believes in avoiding grandiosity and embracing simplicity, many meaningful ceremonies are performed on this day. One of the most important traditions of Mahavir Jayanti is to visit many temples and Tirthankar statues. Processions with the images and pictures of Mahavira are held. Temples also conduct various Pujas to honor Mahavira with offerings of rice, fruits, flowers and milk. There are a few places where his messages and core values are taught. Some believers also observe fast on Mahavir Jayanti. Mahavira also known as Vardhamana is the spiritual Guru and founder of Jainism, which originated in ancient India. Jain temples also known as Jain Derasars or Basadis are built to honor Mahavira and other Tirthankars and serve as places of worship to Jains. According to Swetambars, Vardhaman’s expecting mother had fourteen dreams, they predicted that the child would become either an emperor or Tirthankar a person who believes spiritual enlightenment. The prophecies of astrologers came true and later he became the 24th Tirthankar. Mahavir Janam Kalyank or Mahavir Jayanti is the most auspicious day for Jains. The day is celebrated across the world by the Jain community in memory of the last spiritual teacher of Jainism. The fact that it is celebrated with utmost humility and simplicity is what makes this festival unique. Jain communities throughout the world celebrate and honor the birth of Saint Mahavir with great devotion. The idol of Mahavira is carried on a chariot in a procession called Rath Yatra. On the way religious rhymes are recited. Statues of lord Mahavira are given a ceremonial anointment called Abhishek. On this auspicious day most members of the Jain community engage in some sort of charitable act, prayers, Pujas and observe fasts. Lectures by monks and nuns are held in temples to preach the path of virtue as defined by Lord Mahavira. Ancient Jain temples across India typically see an extremely high volume of practitioners come to pay their respects and join the celebrations Mahavir Jayanti is the day of Lord Mahavira’s birth and is considered as one of the most auspicious days in the country. The spiritual power and moral greatness of Lord Mahavira ‘s teachings impressed many individuals during his time. He made Jainism a religion so simple and free from ritual complexities and inspired many to follow his path. His message and teachings regarding universal love, compassion, truth non-violence and many other things will continue to inspire not only the Jain community but to the whole universe and mankind. His teachings and preaching are more relevant in today’s materialistic and greed torn world. Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated by the Jain community in association and participations of other faiths to show and follow the diversity of India where unity in diversity is the basic doctrine. People from Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and other communities greet their Jain brethren on this important festival and wish them happiness, peace and prosperity. May we continue to celebrate our festivals jointly and commonly to foster real pluralism, secularism and inter faith amity. To conclude we can say that Lord Mahavir’s philosophy continues to be the torch bearer to the humanity in the modern time as well.
