MAHAVIR JAYANTI

The Prime Minister of India greeted the people on occasion of ‘Mahavir Jayanti’ (25th April 2021).
Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most auspicious festivals in the Jain community.

Important points:

This day marks the birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, who was the 24th and the last Tirthankara and who succeeded the 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha.
According to Jain texts, Lord Mahavira was born on the 13th day of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra.
As per the Gregorian calendar, it is usually celebrated in the month of March or April.
Celebration: Usually, a procession is called with the idol of Lord Mahavira called the Rath Yatra. Reciting stavans or Jain prayers, statues of the lord are given a ceremonial bath called abhisheka.
Mahavira was born to King Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Queen Trishala, a Lichchhavi princess in the year 540 BC in the Vajji kingdom, identical with modern day Vaishali in Bihar.
Mahavira belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty.
Lord Mahavir was named Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”.
He abandoned worldly life at the age of 30 and attained ‘kaivalya’ or omniscience at the age of 42.
Mahavira taught ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-attachment) to his disciples and his teachings were called Jain Agamas.
Ordinary people were able to understand the teachings of Mahavira and his followers because they used Prakrit.
It is believed that the Mahavira passed away and attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at the age of 72 in 468 BC at a place called Pavapuri near modern Rajgir in Bihar.

Jainism

The word Jaina comes from the term Jina, meaning conqueror.
Tirthankara is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘Ford maker’, i.e., one who is able to ford the river, to cross beyond the perpetual flow of earthly life.
Jainism attaches utmost importance to ahimsa or non-violence.

It preaches 5 mahavratas (the 5 great vows):

Among these 5 teachings, the Brahmacharya (Celibacy/Chastity) was added by Mahavira.

The three jewels or Triratna of Jainism include:

Jainism is a religion of self-help.

There are no gods or spiritual beings that will help human beings.
It does not condemn the varna system.
In later times, it got divided into two sects:
Shvetambaras (white-clad) under Sthalabahu.
Digambaras (sky-clad) under the leadership of Bhadrabahu.
The important idea in Jainism is that the entire world is animated: even stones, rocks, and water have life.
Non-injury to living beings, especially to humans, animals, plants, and insects, is central to Jaina philosophy.
According to Jain teachings, the cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma.
Asceticism and penance are required to free oneself from the cycle of karma and achieve the liberation of the soul.
The practice of Santhara is also a part of Jainism.
It is the ritual of fasting unto death. Swetambara Jains call it Santhara whereas Digambars call it Sallekhana.