Mahavir Jayanti2024 will fall on 21th April this year. It is a day that is celebrated all around the globe among the Jain community in order to commemorate the life and teachings of the last spiritual leader of Jainism, Lord Mahavir.

Mahavir Jayanti History and Significance

The holiday is celebrated on the 13th day of the waxing (rising) half of Hindu month of Caitra which usually occurs in either late March or early April in the Gregorian calendar.

Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha, and the 24th and last Tirthankara (great sages).

Mahavira, known originally as Vardhamana, was born in either 599 BC or 615 BC. The Digambar school of Jainism say that Lord Mahavira was born in the year 615 BC, but the Swetambaras believe that He was born in 599 BC. However, both sects believe that Mahavira was the son of Siddhartha and Trisala.

According to the legend, Devananda, wife of a Brahmin named Rishabhdeva, conceived him, but the gods transferred the embryo to the womb of Trisala.

Accordings to Swetambara sect, the expectant mother was believed to have seen 14 auspicious dreams. (According to Digambara sect it was 16 dreams). Astrologers interpreted these dreams and predicted that the child would be either an emperor or a Teerthankar.

For over a decade, he was an ascetic, wandering about, begging for food, and wearing little. Then he found enlightenment, became a Tirthankara and taught for 30 years before his death.

The present-day ascetic religion of Jainism revers Mahavira as their key prophet. Practised by over 3.5 million people, Jainism. They follow a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Some may wear face masks to prevent the chance of inadvertently killing an insect while breathing in.

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Significance of Happy Mahavir Jayanti

The revered Lord Mahavir is the founder of the religion of Jainism. He was believed to have been born in 588 B.C. in the Kshatriyakund region of Bihar. His birth is celebrated on this day because it is considered that he was born on the 13th day of the half-moon as per the lunar cycle, in the Chaitra month. He is the last of the 24th Tirthankar. He is the teacher who propagates the essence of dharma in Jainism. The day is celebrated to honor his journey of attaining enlightenment as well as to pay respects to his teachings of peace and austerity to mankind.

Best Places to Observe the Celebrations of Mahavir Jayanti

• Bhagalpur and Nalanda in Bihar
• Giridh district in Jharkhand
• Junagadh in Gujarat
• Hassan in Karnataka
• Mount Abu in Rajasthan

How is Mahavir Jayanti Date Celebrated?

This day holds a lot of significance for the Jains all around the world. Here are the different ways this day is celebrated:

• This major festival of the Jains is celebrated by observing fasts and offering prayers throughout the day.
• On this propitious day, devotees pray in the Jain temples across the country and the rest of the world.
• The prayers are often followed by a time of meditation.
• The worshippers spend the day reflecting upon the teachings of Lord Mahavir on this day.
• His discourses were full of teachings regarding restraint, renunciation, virtue, love and compassion, and modesty, and it is these messages that people contemplate upon on this day.
• Massive processions are carri out with tableaux that display Mahavir’s teachings and are decorated majestically. They carry the idol of Lord Mahavir on a chariot as people walk around it to show their devotion.
• Some people even carry an idol of an infant Lord Mahavir in a cradle upon their heads as they walk while reciting religious hymns and songs.
• This holiday holds special significance to the people in Eastern Bihar. This place is near the modern-day city of Patna and is believ to be the birthplace of Lord Mahavir.
• Similarly, the day holds special relevance to the people of Kolkata, where a massive celebration is held each year on Bhagwan Mahavir Jayanti in the Parasnatha temple.

Rituals Associated with Mahavir Jayanti

The festivities associat with this day are carri out alongside many different rituals. Mentioned below are some of the prominent ones. Let us have a look:

• The day begins with Snana or a traditional bath for the statue of Lord Mahavir with holy water as well as fragrance-infused oils.
• After the snana, the deity is then offer tilak.
• People diligently decorate the temples and adorn the statue of Lord Mahavir in beautiful dresses.
• The idol of the deity is embellish with beautiful flowers and garlands.
• A mixture of Haldi and Chandan is then appli on the idol of Lord Mahavir.
• People offer delicious food prepared on this day to the deity as bhog.
• Offerings of rice, sugar, fruits and dry fruits are made after conducting an Abhishek with holy water and milk.
• Some devotees observe a fast on this auspicious day to receive the blessing of Lord Mahavir.
• People visit the temples with their family and friends and talk about the teachings of Mahavir in detail.
• People also visit the Teerthankar shrines on this day.
• They honor the statue of Lord Mahavir by singing prayers or bhajans.
• Many Jain households prepare a delectable feast on this occasion, and kheer and laddoo are prominent delicacies of the day.

Teachings of Lord Mahavir

The religion of Jainism as we know it in the present day follows an ascetic lifestyle, upholding austerity as a virtue. They revere and worship Lord Mahavir as the ultimate prophet in their religion. Over 3.5 million people around the world today practice the religion of Jainism, where each of them follows a path along the road of non-violence. This teaching of exhibiting non-violence applies not just to humans but to all living beings. They are so strict over the observance of non-violence that some of them even wear a face mask to avoid inadvertently killing an insect while breathing.

Let us take a look at five of the most prominent tenets of Jainism based on the teachings of Lord Mahavir:

• Ahimsa or non-violence: Cause no harm to any living being.
• Asteya or no stealing: Do not take possession of things that do not belong to you.
• Satya or truthfulness: Speak the truth at all times.
• Brahmacharya or chastity: Refrain from indulging in sensual pleasures.
• Aparigraha or non-attachment: Avoid attachment to materialistic objects.

Donations on Mahavir Jayanti

Since the religion of Jainism is based on the principles of charity and non-violence, this auspicious day requires each devotee to make the following daans or donations:

• Abhay Daan- Prevent people from performing bad actions.
• Gyaan Daan- Share the gift of knowledge.
• Aushad Daan- Donate This favorable day holds so much meaning to every Jain as it teaches humanity the right way to live our lives. It teaches us the true meaning of life as we traverse through the many ups and downs in our individual journeys.
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• medicines to the needy.
• Ahaar Daan- Donate food to the poor.

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Conclusion

Mahavir Jayanti stands as a profound celebration of the life and teachings of Lord Mahavir, the revered prophet of Jainism. It falls on the 13th day of the waxing half of the Hindu month of Caitra, typically in late March or early April. Through fasting, prayers, meditation, and reflection, devotees honor Lord Mahavir’s journey to enlightenment and his timeless teachings of non-violence, truthfulness, chastity, non-attachment, and charity. Rituals, such as traditional baths for idols, offerings of food, and visits to temples, enrich the day’s festivities. Jainism’s emphasis on compassion extends not only to humans but to all living beings, embodying the essence of Mahavir’s teachings. Mahavir Jayanti serves as a reminder for humanity to embrace virtues that foster harmony, peace, and empathy, resonating with the enduring message of the Jain faith.