Mahavir Jayanti It is extremely important for the Jain community as it is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, one of the most revered Tirthankaras of Jainism. Pujya Tirthankar was born on the 13th day of Shukla Paksha of Chaitra month. The birth anniversary of this spiritual leader and the last Tirthankara (preaching to God) of Jainism is celebrated on Mahavir Jayanti. In 599 BCE, he was born as Vardhamana in Kundagrama, a small village near Vaishali in Bihar, India.
Mahavir Jayanti 2023: Date
April 4, 2023
Mahavir Jayanti 2023: History
King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala had a son named Lord Mahavira. According to the Svetambaras, he was born in Kundalgram, Bihar on the 13th day of the Hindu calendar month Chaitra in 599 BCE, while the Digambara Jains state that he was born in 615 BCE. He was named Vardhaman in his childhood itself. He was born in a royal family and was surrounded by all the wealth and comforts of life, yet he was not a part of it. These materialistic pleasures never attracted him. As he grew up, he began to search for the meaning of his existence and as a result, at the age of 30, he renounced the kingdom, his family and his worldly duties and traveled. Jungle to seek inner peace and tranquility. To escape, he fasted for 12 years.
Facts and Beliefs of Lord Mahavira
1. Some say that the Tirthankaras knew Lord Mahavira before his birth.
2. Vardhaman is another name of Lord Mahavira. He is known by five different names.
3. He ran away from his kingdom and family when he was 30 years old.
4. Lord Mahavira is believed to have meditated for 12 years.
5. He presented five principles to live a stress free life.
6. He is the last Tirthankara of the Avasarpini, who represents the present time cycle.
7. The Kalpa Sutra states that Mahavira lived in Astikagrama, Pristichampa, Nalanda, Mithila, Bhadrika, Vaishali, Vanajagrama, Albhika, Panitabhumi, Shravasti, Champapuri and Pawapuri for the first 42 monsoons of his life.
8. According to Svetambara, after attaining omniscience, he spent thirty years traveling across India speaking on his philosophy. Despite this, according to the Digambaras, he continued to preach to his followers in Samavasaran.
9. According to the Kalpa Sutra, Mahavira had 159,000 male followers and 318,000 female followers, as well as 14,000 male ascetics and 36,000 female ascetics.
10. His campaign for international peace, a better rebirth and ultimately freedom served as the spiritual goals of his life.
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