Diwali (Jainism)
Diwali | |
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Kartika | |
Frequency | Annual |
Related to | Diwali, Bandi Chhor Divas, Tihar, Swanti, Sohrai, Bandna |
Part of a series on |
Jainism |
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Diwali in
History
Mahavira, the 24th
Mahavira attained his nirvana at the dawn of the
16 Gana-kings, 9 Malla and 9 Lichchhavi, of Kasi and Kosal, illuminated their doors. They said: "Since the light of knowledge is gone, we will make light of ordinary matter" ("गये से भवुज्जोये, दव्वुज्जोयं करिस्समो").
ततस्तुः लोकः प्रतिवर्षमादरत् प्रसिद्धदीपलिकयात्र भारते |
समुद्यतः पूजयितुं जिनेश्वरं जिनेन्द्र-निर्वाण विभूति-भक्तिभाक् |२० |
tatastuḥ lokaḥ prativarśam ādarat
prasiddha-dīpalikaya-ātra bhārate
samudyataḥ pūjayituṃ jineśvaraṃ
jinendra-nirvāṇa vibhūti-bhaktibhāk
Translation: The gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra (i.e. Lord Mahavira) on the occasion of his nirvana.
Dipalikaya roughly translates as "light leaving the body".[4] Dipalika, which can be roughly translated as "splendiferous light of lamps", is used interchangeably with the word "Diwali".[citation needed]
Jain New Year
The Jain year starts with
पंच य मासा पंच य वास छच्चेव होन्ति वाससया|
परिणिव्वुअस्स अरिहितो तो उप्पन्नो सगो राया||
Thus the Nirvana occurred 605 years and 5 months before the Saka era.
Celebration
On Diwali morning, Nirvan Ladoo is offered after praying to Lord Mahavira in all Jain temples across the world.[4] The most important principle of Jains is Ahimsa or non violence, thus they tend to avoid firecrackers during Diwali as they cause harm to living organisms. Diwali is celebrated in atmosphere of austerity, simplicity, serenity, equity, calmness, charity, philanthropy and environment-consciousness. Jain temples, homes, offices, and shops are decorated with lights and diyas. Relatives distribute sweets to each other. The lights are symbolic of knowledge or removal of ignorance. Swetambar Jains observe two days of fasting in remembrance of the penance and sacrifice of Mahavira. In temples and homes, devotees sing and chant hymns and mantras from Jain religious texts in praise of the Tirthankar and congregate for a prayer and recite verses from the Uttaradhyayan Sutra which contain the last teachings of Mahavira. Jains pay visit to Pawapuri, Nalanda in Bihar on this special day to offer their prayers. The Jain year starts with Pratipada, next day of Diwali.[5]
Another longstanding tradition is to purchase new account books or ledgers to bring good luck and prosperity for the new year.[6]
References
Citation
- ISBN 9788176501651. Retrieved 6 May 2017.
- ^ Jacobi, Hermann (1884). Sacred Books of the East. Vol. 22: Gaina Sutras Part I.
- ISBN 81-260-1194-7.
- ^ a b The Financial Express & Jain Diwali.
- ^ "Diwali In Jain Dharma". The Times of India. 26 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- ^ "Come Diwali, traders throng this Bengaluru stationery shop". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
Source
- Dar, Vaishali (27 October 2019). "Diwali 2019: Jains celebrate this day as Lord Mahavir's nirvana". The Financial Express. Retrieved 7 November 2019.