The Jain community celebrates the birth
anniversary of the 24th and the last Tirthankara, Vardhman
Mahavir, the founder of Jainism. On Mahavir Jayanthi,
Jain temples are decorated with flags. In the morning
the idol of Mahavira is given a ceremonial bath called
the 'abhishek'. It is then placed in a cradle and carried
in a procession around the neighbourhood. The devotees
make offerings of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps
and water to the Tirthankar. Pilgrims from all parts
of the country visit the ancient Jain Temples at Girnar
and Palitana in Gujarat on this day.
The birth anniversary of the 24th and the last Tirthankara
of the Jains, Vardhman Mahavir, the founder of Jainism,
is celebrated by the Jain community in March. Born a
prince in 599 BC, Mahavir renounced worldly life at
the age of 30 and undertook austere penance until he
achieved realisation.
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He spread the message
of salvation to the world and had many followers.
Mahavir preached non-violence, prohibited any
kind of killing and taught his followers to seek
salvation through penance and abstinence. They
are also advised to donate money, clothes and
grain to the poor. The Jains are divided into
many sects of whom the main ones are Digambaras
and Shvetambaras with the latter again divided
into Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. |
On Mahavir Jayanthi, Jain temples are decorated with
flags. In the morning the idol of Mahavira is given
a ceremonial bath called the 'abhishek'. It is then
placed in a cradle and carried in a procession around
the neighbourhood. The devotees will make offerings
of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to the
tirthankar. Some sections of the community even participate
in a grand procession. Lectures are held to preach the
path of virtue. People meditate and offer prayers. Donations
are collected to save the cows from slaughter. Pilgrims
from all parts of the country visit the ancient Jain
Temples at Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat on this day.
According to one, during the Samudra Manthan, a pot
of poison emerged from the ocean. This terrified the
gods and demons as the poison was capable of destroying
the entire world, and they ran to Shiva for help. To
protect the world from its evil effects, Shiva drank
the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead
of swallowing it. Because of it, his throat turned blue,
and he was given the name Nilkantha, the blue-throated
one. Shivratri is the celebration of this event by which
Shiva saved the world.
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