Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
Mahavir Janma Kalyanak | |
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Jain Temple | |
Observances | Prayers, religious rituals |
Date | Chaitra Sud Triyodashi (teras) (Vira Nirvana Samvat) |
Frequency | Annual |
Part of a series on |
Jainism |
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Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is one of the most important religious festivals in Jainism. It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara (supreme preacher) of present Avasarpiṇī.[a] On the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April.
Birth
According to Jain texts, Mahavira was born on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra in the year 599 BCE (Chaitra Sud 13).[2][3] According to Shvetambara tradition, he was born in Kshatriyakund of Bihar. Some modern historians consider Kundagram (which is today's Kundalpur in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar) as his birthplace. He was born in a democratic kingdom (Ganarajya), Vajji, where the king was chosen by votes. Vaishali was its capital.[4] He was named Vardhamana, meaning "One who grows", because of the increased prosperity in the kingdom at the time of his birth.[5] In Vasokund, Mahavira is revered by the villagers. A place called Ahalya bhumi has not been ploughed for hundreds of years by the family that owns it, as it is considered to be the birthplace of Mahavira.[4]
Legend
Mahavira was born into Jnatra clan of the
Celebrations
The idol of Mahavira is carried out on a chariot, in a procession called
References
- ^ "Mahavir Jayanti in India".
- ^ (India), Gujarat (1975). Gazetteers: Junagadh. p. 13.
- ^ Kristi L. Wiley: Historical Dictionary of Jainism, Lanham 2004, p. 134.
- ^ a b Jalaj 2011, p. 4.
- ^ Kailash Chand Jain 1991, p. 32.
- ^ Pannalal Jain 2015, p. 460.
- ISBN 978-81-263-1480-5
- ^ "Piety marks Mahaveer Jayanthi". Deccan Herald. 3 April 2015.
- ^ "Both sects of Jain community take out attractive joint procession". Archived from the original on 6 April 2015.
- ^ "Mahaveer Jayanti 2015: The importance of a Satvik meal", NDTV, 2 April 2015, archived from the original on 4 April 2016
- ^ "How and Why Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated". India Today.
- ^ "Jain youth to hold vegan promotion rally on Mahaveer Jayanti in pink city Jaipur". merinews.com. 28 March 2015.
- ^ "Jains gear up for Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak tomorrow". dnaindia.com. 1 April 2015.
- ^ Staff Reporter (30 March 2015). "Over 900 run for spreading Bhagwan Mahaveer's message". The Hindu.
Notes
- ^ descending half of the worldly time cycle as per Jain cosmology which is actually current now
Sources
- ISBN 978-81-208-0805-8
- ISBN 978-81-263-1738-7
- Jalaj, Dr. Jaykumar (2011), The Basic Thought of Bhagavan Mahavir, Mumbai: ISBN 978-81-88769-41-4