Mahavira Jayanti is one of the most significant festivals of Jainism. It is observed to commemorate the birth of Mahavira, the 24th and last Jain tirthankara. A tirthankara is an enlightened soul who is born as a human being and attains perfection through intense meditation.
The teachings of Parshvanatha left an indelible impression on the young Vardhamana’s mind. When he was 28, his parents passed away and his elder brother Nandivardhana succeeded their father. Vardhamana craved freedom from worldly attachments and sought his brother’s permission to renounce his royal life. At the age of 30, he finally left home and embraced the ascetic life of a monk and later came to be known as Mahavira.
Mahavira spent the next twelve and a half years pursuing a life of hard penance to free himself completely of his basic attachments. He practised complete silence and rigorous meditation to overcome his basic desires. Ahimsa became an integral part of his spiritual life. He assumed a calm and peaceful demeanour and sought to overcome emotions like anger. He is the most compassionate one and willingly accepted hardships to burn his karmas.
Many incidents and stories reveal the character of Mahavira. Mahavira has said that, “Anger causes degradation of soul.” A popular story talks about Mahavira and Chandkaushik (a poisonous cobra). On his way to village Vachala, where lived Chandkaushik, Mahavira heard that the people of the village near the forest lived in absolute terror. Mahavira stopped in the forest where Chandkaushik lived and meditated. Feelings of peace, tranquility and concern for the well-being of every living being flowed from Mahavira’s heart.
Chandkaushik, on encountering Mahavira, hissed in anger, but saw no sign of fear and this made him more angry and he blew poisonous venom towards Mahavira three times but still the tirthankara was in meditation posture. Now he was really mad and concentrated all his power and bit his toe. He saw white milk flow out of his toe. Then Mahavira opened his eyes and was so calm and compassionate. He looked at Chandkaushik and said, “Hey Chand, shant ho shant” and requested the cobra to overcome its anger and bitterness and instead, forgive and remain peaceful. Chandkaushik became calm and peacefully retreated back to his hole.
Peace and harmony in society come from the feeling of love and equality of all living beings. This is the concept of Mahavira’s concept of non-violence. The sole motive of Mahavira was to make this world a calm and peaceful place. His main principles were: Live and let live, ahimsa parmo dharma, belief in karma theory and that everyone has ability to become tirthankara. Samyag gyan, samyag darshan and samyag charitra this trio led Lord Mahavira to Kevalya Gyan, the attainment of omniscience, at the age of 42. Lord Mahavira devoted his life towards spreading his principles and Jain dharma among the people and gave discourses in local languages. He attained Moksha at the age of 72 in 527 BC and was finally liberated from the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Lord Mahavira is said to be the founder of Jainism.
“Live and allow others to live; hurt no one; life is dear to all living beings,” said Mahavira.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
Courtesy: Times of India, Speaking Tree, 17th April, 2019
Mahavira Jayanti is one of the most significant festivals of Jainism. It is observed to commemorate the birth of Mahavira, the 24th and last Jain tirthankara. A tirthankara is an enlightened soul who is born as a human being and attains perfection through intense meditation.
The teachings of Parshvanatha left an indelible impression on the young Vardhamana’s mind. When he was 28, his parents passed away and his elder brother Nandivardhana succeeded their father. Vardhamana craved freedom from worldly attachments and sought his brother’s permission to renounce his royal life. At the age of 30, he finally left home and embraced the ascetic life of a monk and later came to be known as Mahavira.
Mahavira spent the next twelve and a half years pursuing a life of hard penance to free himself completely of his basic attachments. He practised complete silence and rigorous meditation to overcome his basic desires. Ahimsa became an integral part of his spiritual life. He assumed a calm and peaceful demeanour and sought to overcome emotions like anger. He is the most compassionate one and willingly accepted hardships to burn his karmas.
Many incidents and stories reveal the character of Mahavira. Mahavira has said that, “Anger causes degradation of soul.” A popular story talks about Mahavira and Chandkaushik (a poisonous cobra). On his way to village Vachala, where lived Chandkaushik, Mahavira heard that the people of the village near the forest lived in absolute terror. Mahavira stopped in the forest where Chandkaushik lived and meditated. Feelings of peace, tranquility and concern for the well-being of every living being flowed from Mahavira’s heart.
Chandkaushik, on encountering Mahavira, hissed in anger, but saw no sign of fear and this made him more angry and he blew poisonous venom towards Mahavira three times but still the tirthankara was in meditation posture. Now he was really mad and concentrated all his power and bit his toe. He saw white milk flow out of his toe. Then Mahavira opened his eyes and was so calm and compassionate. He looked at Chandkaushik and said, “Hey Chand, shant ho shant” and requested the cobra to overcome its anger and bitterness and instead, forgive and remain peaceful. Chandkaushik became calm and peacefully retreated back to his hole.
Peace and harmony in society come from the feeling of love and equality of all living beings. This is the concept of Mahavira’s concept of non-violence. The sole motive of Mahavira was to make this world a calm and peaceful place. His main principles were: Live and let live, ahimsa parmo dharma, belief in karma theory and that everyone has ability to become tirthankara. Samyag gyan, samyag darshan and samyag charitra this trio led Lord Mahavira to Kevalya Gyan, the attainment of omniscience, at the age of 42. Lord Mahavira devoted his life towards spreading his principles and Jain dharma among the people and gave discourses in local languages. He attained Moksha at the age of 72 in 527 BC and was finally liberated from the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Lord Mahavira is said to be the founder of Jainism.
“Live and allow others to live; hurt no one; life is dear to all living beings,” said Mahavira.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."
Courtesy: Times of India, Speaking Tree, 17th April, 2019