Mahavir Jayanti:
Prime Minister Modi greeted people on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.
- Also known as Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak.
- Mahavir Jayanti is the birth anniversary of 24th and last Jain Tirthankar Lord Mahavir.
- As per the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April.
- It is one of the most important religious festivals for Jains. The followers of Lord Mahavir celebrate this festival by chanting prayers, offering Prasad and participating in chariot processions.
Lord Mahavir:
- Name: Mahavira is also known as Vardhamana.
- He was the 24th tirthankara who revived Jainism.
- He was born in 6th century BC into a royal Kshatriya family in present-day Bihar, India.
- Kevala Jnana: He left home at the age of 30 and became an ascetic. He practiced intense meditation for 12 years, after which he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience).
- Five vows: After attaining Kevala Jnana, Mahavira taught that observance of the five vows of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-attachment) is necessary for spiritual liberation.
- Death: He attained nirvana at the age of 72, and his body was cremated.
- Agamas: Mahavira’s teachings were compiled by Indrabhuti Gautama (his chief disciple) as the Jain Agamas.
