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Bhagavân
Mahavira (श्रीमहावीर)
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(24th Jain Tirthankara)
Name
.......................Mahavira Prabhu
Father's Name................... ..Siddhartha
Mother's Name.................. ..Trishala (Priyakarini)
Birth Place
.....................Kundalpur
Birth Thithi
.....................Chitra Sukla.13
Diksha Thithi .................... Marghshirsh ku. 10
Kevalgyan Thithi.............. ...Baishak ku.10
Naksharta
..................... Hasthotar
Diksha Sathi ................ ....Ekaki
Shadhak Jeevan ........... .....42 years
Age Lived ................
.....72 years
Lakshan Sign ................ .....Lion
Neervan Place ............... .... .Pavapuri
Neervan Sathi ................ .... .0
Neervan Thithi................ ..... Kartik ku. 15
Colour
..................... Golden
The last
(twenty-fourth) Tirthankara, Mahavir, was a historical personality. He was
born in 599 BC in a royal family of Kshatriyas in the democratic republic of Vaishali (Bihar).
His father was King Sidhartha and his mother Queen Trishla Devi (Priyakarini).
Sidhartha's gotra was Kasyapa and the paternal gotra of Trisala is
mentioned as Vasistha. Trisala was the eldest daughter ( according to
another tradition, sister) of King Cetaka of Vaisali).
Mahavira's original
name was Vardhman. From his childhood, he was soft, kind-hearted. He was
very upset by the ritual sacrifice of animals, and vowed to fight for the
rights of animals. He also wished to fight for the advancement of women
and untouchables. Among his sports of boyhood, there is even a traditional
story that he brought under control a terrif serpent. Consequently and
symbolic of this feat of bravery, he got the title Mahavira and Vira-natha.
He left his kingdom at
the age of thirty to begin an ascetic life. He entered the forest to
commune with all living beings, including animals, trees, and other
plants. He practiced meditation, austerity, and samadhi for twelve and a
half years, getting enlightenment. By self-purification and severe
spiritual practices, finally, at the age of forty-two, Mahavira attained
Kaivalya (perfection).
For the next thirty
years, Mahavira spread the message of Ahimsa non-violence , truth,
non-stealing, right conduct, and non possession. He campaigned against the
barriers of caste, creed, and faith. He also advocated protecting all
living creatures. Bhagavan Mahavira gave us several analytical theories of
Karma, multiplicity of truth etc. All these theories helped people to
reach higher levels of consciousness and to create happiness and peace in
society. His doctrines of Right Knowing, Right Vision, and Right Conduct
are considered the three Jewels of Jain philosophy, by which to achieve
the ultimate goal in life.
His routine involved not even a trace of violence to living
beings (Ahimsa), not to deprive others of even a blade of grass belonging
to them (achorya), not to speak lie even remotely (Satya), not to
entertain any sex appetite, even in mind (Brhamcharya), and not to have
any possession of worldly goods (Aprigraha). These were his five great
vows.
Mahavira responded with supreme forbearance. "I forgive all living beings. May
all beings forgive me. I have forgiveness for one and all. I bear no malice
towards anyone", he declared. Through his precept underscored by a practice of
forgiveness and compassion, Mahavira brought about a happy transformation in a
strife-torn society that was in perpetual tension and conflicts. Each living being is essentially and individual soul striving for
ultimate happiness, he said. The supreme bliss, therefore, consists of liberation from the vicious circle of life and death. Freedom from the bondage
of attachments is the only path that leads to salvation or ‘Nirvana’ - a state
of perfection or the Life Eternal.
Gandhiji acknowledged mankind’s debt to Mahavira in these words: "No
religion in the world has explained the principle of Ahimsa so deeply and systematically as discussed with its applicability in life in Jainism.
Noted orientalist H.W. Beecher, said. "Mahavira was a great saviour, a benefactor of humanity and "one of the greatest of the great.
Mahavira attained Nirvana in 527 B.C. on the day of
Kartik Krishna 15 at Pawapuri. But the light of knowledge he bequeathed to the world continues to
enlighten the path of redemption for humanity.
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