Mahavira Jayanti

Mahavira Jayanti is the main Jain festival and is celebrated in March-April.

CELEBRATIONS

This religious event is ritually celebrated by the Jains who visit sacred sites and worship the Teerthankars. The event holds special significance in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan because the ancient Jain shrines at Girnar, Dilwara and Palitana are situated in these states. Mahavira Jayanti is also celebrated at the Parasnath temple in Calcutta and at Pawapuri in Bihar.

RITUALS

For the Jains, muted celebrations, solemn visits to temples, quiet prayers and worship mark the birth anniversary of the Mahavira and there is no pomp and gaiety related with this festival. Unlike most Indian festivals, Mahavira Jayanti, in keeping with the austere nature of Jainism reflects quietness. Jains celebrate this day with great solemnity and devotion.

The Mahavira was perceived in his times as a reformer who vehemently opposed the ritualism and false beliefs, which plagued Hinduism in the later Vedic times. He led his followers instead, to seek salvation through penance and abstinence. With the passage of time, there were many schisms among the Jains on issues such as idol worship. The main sects now are the Digambars and Svetambaras, with the latter again divided into Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. While the Deravasis visit temples and worship the statue of Mahavira, the Sthanakvasis emphasize the internalization of the faith.

Some academicians feel that Jainism was the oldest atheistic religion, as the Mahavira felt there was no supreme being who could create or sustain the universe. The faith held that the universe did not have a beginning, was endless and operated according to natural law. The goal of a Jain was to attain kevala or, in other words, to transcend the universe by moving out of the vicious cycle of karma, action and consequence.

The Mahavira himself was against idol worship. Therefore, there are not too many rituals related to any of the Jain festivals. However, probably due to the influence of Hinduism and other Indian religions, many members of the community have started believing in rituals and perform the rite of Abhishek quite enthusiastically. They make offerings of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps, and water to the idol of the tirthankara as part of elaborate worship rituals. Some sections of the community even participate in grand processions, which are taken out on occasions such as the Mahavira Jayanti.

LEGENDS

The two sects, namely the Digambars and the Svetambaras, have slightly different stories related to the birth of Lord Mahavira. According to the Digambar school of Jainism, Lord Mahavira was born in 615 BC, but according to the Svetambaras, he was born in 599 BC. Though the two sects believe that he was the son of Siddharth and Trisala. The Digambars believe that the expectant mother had 16 auspicious dreams before the child was born and 14 dreams according to the Svetambaras. According to legends, Brahmin Rishabhdeva’s wife Devananda conceived Lord Mahavira but the Gods transferred the embryo to queen Trisala's womb. The dreams of the expectant mother were interpreted by the astrologers who stated the child would either be an Emperor or a Teerthankar.

Born to King Siddharth and Queen Trisala of Vaisali (now in the state of Bihar), the Mahavira was named Vardhaman, as his father’s kingdom and fame grew right from the time he was conceived. Like his contemporary, Gautam Buddha, Vardhaman renounced the world and his princely status and began to live like an ascetic. By the time he was 30 years old, he had already been named the Mahavira (supremely brave) for acts of valor performed during his youth. The Mahavira taught ahimsa (non-violence) and love for all living beings. Kings and queens were among those who became his followers. After he attained enlightenment, the Mahavira was named Jina (victorious over karma) and his followers - Jains.

The Mahavira renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and undertook austere penance till he achieved realization. Not satisfied with keeping the knowledge of the highest good to himself, he spread the message of salvation to the world. Thus started the faith of the Jinas or victors of the soul. The Mahavira, however, is the last in a line of tirthankaras or 'bridge builders', the first being Lord Rishabh. There is evidence at Harappa to prove that the religion propagated by Lord Mahavira dates back to pre-Vedic times. It is also mentioned in the Rig Veda.

To the Jains, the Mahavira is the last of a line of 24 teachers known as tirthankaras. And Mahavira Jayanti is a day to remember and worship this teacher and all his predecessors.

REGIONAL CELEBRATIONS

The event holds special significance in Gujarat and Rajasthan, due to the ancient shrines at Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat. Mahavira Jayanti is also celebrated at Parasnath temple in Calcutta and at Pawapuri in Bihar. Gujarat, Calcutta, Bihar, and other Jain priority areas of India are primarily the regions that celebrate Mahavira Jayanti.

PLACES TO VISIT

Gujarat, Rajasthan, Calcutta, Bihar and other Jain priority areas of India are the places to visit to witness the celebrations of this quiet and solemn festival.