MAHAVIR JAYANTI Lord Mahavira - 24th Jain
Tirthankara
April 24, 2013
Historical
Background
Full
Name of the event
Mahavir Jayanti
Date of Celebration
His birthday, each year,
on the 13th day under the rising moon of
Chaitra
Brief
History
In Jainism, a Tīrthaṅkara is a human being who helps in
achieving liberation and enlightenment.
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Siddha in Jainism is a liberated soul that has destroyed all
the karma bondings; a soul in the purest form.
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Arihant in Jainism is a step before becoming siddha.
Arihants destroyed all gathi (soul constraining) karmas and
still live until they reach the Siddha status. Arihant
literally means vanquisher of the enemies.
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Mahavira (599-527 BC) was the last Jaini Tirthankara.
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Lord Mahavira is addressed by people by different names such
as Vira or Viraprabhu, Sanmati, Vardhamana, Ativira and
Gnatputra.
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Lord Mahavira established the ethics that are ruling the
whole Jain community today.
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He was born at Kundalagrama (Vaishali district) situated 27
miles from Patna in Bihar, India.
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His birthday is celebrated as Mahavira Jayanti every year.
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He is more popularly known as "Vardhaman", because of the
fact that, after Mahavira was born, his family prospered and
got loads of riches.
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According to one legend, after his birth, Mahavir was bathed
by Lord Indra with celestial milk.
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He was the son of the King Siddhartha, so he lived his early
life like a prince.
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But at around the age of thirty, he left his family and
turned into an ascetic.
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After having left behind the worldly pleasures of life, he
went into the state of deep silence for over 12 years.
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He started being called Mahavira becuase of his quest for
truth and the real virtues of life.
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When his soul departed for the heavens at the age of 72, he
had around 400,000 followers.
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