Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated as the anniversary of
Vardhman Mahavir, the founder of Jain religion. Commemorating his birthday
on this day, Mahavir was the most revered religious leader in this century
and was perceived as a reformer who vehemently opposed the ritualism and
false beliefs. The twenty-fourth and last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavir was born
in 599 BC and lived for 72 years. He was born of Sidhartha, the Raja of
Kundalpura, and Queen Trishala, who was also known by the name Priyakarni.
His Divine Life
Prince Vardhamana became extremely penitent and resolved to give up
everything worldly. He gave up attachment to his parents, friends and
relatives. Distributing all his wealth among the poor, he went to the forest
and became a monk. Mahavir practised rigorous austerities, including fasts
that lasted many days. He meditated on the pure nature of the Soul. Mahavir
lived a life of absolute truthfulness, a life of perfect honesty and a life
of absolute chastity.
His Teachings
Mahavira
taught that people can save their souls from the contamination of matter by
living a life of extreme asceticism and by practising non-violence towards
all living creatures. This advocacy of non-violence encouraged his followers
- monastic and lay - to become strong advocates of vegetarianism. Mahavira's
followers were aided in their quest for salvation by the five mahavatars.
Attributed to Mahavira, these great vows were the renunciation of killing,
of speaking untruths, of greed, of sexual pleasure, and of all attachments
to living beings and non-living things.
Sects
The main sects now are the Digambaras and Shvetambaras, with the latter
again divided into Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. While the Deravasis visit the
temples and worship the statue of Mahavir, the Sthanakvasis emphasise the
internalisation of the faith. Mahavir himself was against idol worship.
Celebrations
On the day of Mahavir Jayanthi ( Birth anniversary), many members of the
community make offerings of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to
the tirthankar. Some sections of the community even participate in a grand
procession.
