Mahavir Jayanti

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi paid tributes to Bhagwan Mahavir on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.

About Mahavir Jayanti

• Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara (supreme preacher) of the current Avasarpini cycle. Mahavira succeeded Parshvanatha, the 23rd Tirthankara.

• • It is celebrated as a tribute to compassion, self-restraint, truth, and ahimsa (non-violence).
  • In 2025, this auspicious occasion falls on April 10, marking the 2623rd birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira.
• Celebration: Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated with temple visits, Rath Yatras, charity, and scripture readings. 
  • Devotees also perform Abhishekam, the ceremonial bathing of Lord Mahavira’s idol.

About Lord Mahavira

• Birth Name: Vardhamana, meaning “One who grows,” symbolizing prosperity during his birth.
• Clan and Lineage: Born into the Jnatra clan of the Ikshvaku dynasty.
• Parents: King Siddhartha and Queen Trishalaa, a Lichchhavi princess.
• Date of Birth: 599 BC, Chaitra Sud 13 (according to Jain texts).
• Birthplace: Born in the Vajji confederacy (a democratic republic), with Vaishali as its capital.
• Renunciation: At the age of 30, Mahavira renounced worldly life in search of truth. 
• Kevala Jnana: After 12 years of intense meditation and penance, he attained Kevala Jnana (supreme knowledge) and spent the rest of his life preaching spiritual liberation.
• Moksha: He attained Moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at age 72 (5th century BC).
• Sangha: Mahavira established the Sangha, which was a monastic community aimed at disseminating his teachings. 
  • It included both male and female followers, thus promoting an inclusive approach to religious practice.
• First Sermon: Delivered his first sermon at Pava (near Patna).
• Passed Away: Died at Pavapuri (near modern-day Rajgir, Bihar).
• Patronage: He often visited the courts of Bimbisara and Ajatasatru.
• Symbol: A symbol is associated with every Tirthankara, Lord Mahavira’s symbol was a lion. 
• Titles: Mahavira (great hero), Jaina/Jitendriya (who conquered all his senses), Nirgrantha (who is free from all bonds)
• Teachings/Mahavratas (the 5 great vows): 
• • Ahimsa (non-violence)
  • Satya (truth)
  • Asteya (non-stealing)
  • Aparigraha (non-attachment)
  • Brahmacharya (chastity) (propounded by Mahavira)
• Language of Teachings: Mahavira and his disciples taught in Prakrit to teach ordinary people.

Relevance of Lord Mahavira to Contemporary India

• Promoting Non-Violence: Encourages peaceful coexistence in a pluralistic society like India, fostering communal harmony and mutual respect.
• Sustainable Lifestyle: Jain principles of simplicity, restraint, and sustainability aligns with the national Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) campaign.
• Ecological Significance: Jainism’s sutra or aphorism of “Parasparopagraho Jivanam,” emphasizes mutual interdependence and ecological balance.
• Cultivating Emotional and Mental Wellness: The principle of Brahmacharya (Self-Restraint) encourages control over desires and moderation in personal habits for inner peace and balance.
• Public trust and Institutional integrity: Satya (truth) and Asteya (non-stealing) together uphold honesty and fairness. They form the ethical foundation for public trust and institutional integrity.