Mahavir Jayanti the most important holiday in the Jain calendar celebrates the birth of Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, the founder of the Jain religion and the last in the galaxy of 24 Teerthankaras (Jain Prophets). Born in Vaishali on the 13th day of the rising moon of Chaitra, to Siddhartha and Trisala, there is a conflict about the year he was born in, by the two sects of Jainism, the Svetambaras and the Digambaras. While the Digambar school of Jainism believes that Lord Mahavira was born in the year 615 BC, the Swetambaras believe that he was born in 599 BC
According to the legend, after Devananda, wife of a Brahmin named Rishabhdeva, conceived him, the gods ingeniously transferred the embryo to the womb of Trisala. His parents King Siddhartha, and Queen Trishla were very religious people and followers of Lord Parshwanath, the twenty-third Tirthankar. According to Swetambara sect the expectant mother was believed to have seen fourteen auspicious dreams, while the Digambara sect believe it to be sixteen dreams. Learned scholars and astrologers who interpreted these dreams said that the child she would bear, would be an extraordinary child, one who will show the path to true happiness to humanity (a Tirthankar) or would be an emperor.
Jain mythology also talks about how things started to change six months prior to his birth. From gods and goddesses coming down to bestow their blessings on the expectant mother to wealth being showered from the heavens, relieving everyone from poverty & extending the superior ambience.
As a boy, Vardhamana, came across many episodes where he showed absolute fearlessness which earned him the name `Mahavira’. Though he grew up as a prince he renounced pleasures and luxuries and undertook a life of intense penance for more than twelve years. Bearing not just the rigors of nature but also torments from his countrymen, he finally became self-illumined.
Not content with just his personal salvation, he chose to become a great human redeemer, spreading the message of non-violence, prohibiting any kind of killing and teaching his followers to seek salvation through penance and abstinence and helping the poor by donating food, money and clothing. While he initiated a simple five-fold path for the householders that include Ahimsa (Non-injury – physical or mental – to others), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (temperance in sexual pleasures) and Aparigraha (non-acquisition of property) his injunctions for monks and nuns were however very exacting, from abstinence of every kind of physical comfort and material possession to absolute dedication to the highest ethical and spiritual discipline.
According to the Hindu calendar, Mahavir Jayanti falls on the 13th day of the bright fortnight of the Chaitra month. This corresponds to sometime between late March and early April as per the Gregorian calendar.
Widely celebrated throughout India at Jain Temples, celebrations are more prominent in Rajasthan and Gujarat due to the high number of Jains in these states. Those following Jainism travel to recognized Jain shrines to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti; in Gujarat, the shrines are located at Girnar and Palitana, while in Rajasthan followers flock to Mahavirji. Vaishali the birthplace of the Tirthankar also hosts a majestic celebration. Pilgrims from all parts of the country visit the ancient Jain Temples at Pawapuri, Kundalpur and Parsvanath on this day.
Temples hosting the Mahavir Jayanti festivals are decorated with flags to mark the birthday of Lord Mahavira. After an idol of Lord Mahavir is given an ‘abhishek’ (ceremonial bath) in every temple, it is placed in a cradle and carried in a parade throughout the region of celebration. Sections of the Jain community take part in the grand procession offering milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to the people in procession. While this procession may vary from region to region, the parade generally includes drummers, horses, elephants and singers. At many places, lecture-sessions are held to preach the path of virtue that Lord Mahavir propagated. Not only do religious people use this day to meditate and offer prayers but donations are also collected to save cows from slaughter. Depending on the place, the procession ends at a temple, shrine or large communal area where people pray and meditate.
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The four kinds of donations recommended for every Jain on this day include:
Gyan daan: sharing of knowledge
Abhay daan: protecting people from bad actions
Aushad daan: donating medicines
Ahaar daan: giving food
Lord Mahavir was a great teacher who taught humanity the true path of happiness. His teachings on complete nonviolence and the importance of austerity showed the path to achieving salvation and spirituality.
Mahavir Jayanti is also celebrated during an eight day holy period of “Paryushan”, one of the most important festivals for the Jains, when passages from the life history of Lord Mahavir are read out from ‘Kalpa Sutra’, the Holy Scripture containing biographies of Jain Tirthankars. However this day is not associated with pomp and festivities rather with silent prayers and worship in accordance with the Mahavir’s teachings of austerity and renunciation. While the rest of the Jain population organises peaceful processions, Jain religious leaders spend this day in solitude. The occasion sees children depicting various incidents from the life of Lord Mahavir.
All over the country, Mahavir Jayanti is generally considered an auspicious occasion and observed with great solemnity.
