The ‘Mahavir Jayanti’ is one of the most important religious festivals of the Jains. The President and Vice President greet the people on this occasion.
Mahavir Jayanti is undoubtedly a major event in the Jain community. Mahavir Jayanti is a special day for Jain followers because it commemorates one of the most important events in the Jain tradition, the birth of great Jain Tirthankara, Lord Mahavira.
Mahavir Jayanti is a day celebrated by the people who belong to Jainism, worldwide. Jainism is an ancient religion and Mahavira became the last (24th) Tirthankara who paved way for salvation of every soul to be free from rebirth.
According to Jain texts, Lord Mahavira was born on the 13th day of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra.
This festival is celebrated widely by the Jain community in memory of the last spiritual teacher of the religion. 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.
Tirthankara Mahavira was born into the royal Kshatriya family of King Siddhartha of the Ikshvaku Dynasty and Queen Trishala of the Licchavi dynasty. The Ikshvaku Dynasty was established by First Tirthankara Rishabhanatha.
According to Jains, Mahavira was born in 599 BCE. His birthday falls on the thirteenth day of the rising moon in the month of Chaitra in the Vira Nirvana Samvat calendar era. It falls in March or April of the Gregorian calendar, and is celebrated by Jains as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak.
There are several historians who believe that he was born in a place called Ahalya bhumi and the land has not been plowed for hundreds of years by the family that owns it.
Lord Mahavir was named Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”. He abandoned the 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.
