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Friday, April 15, 2011

Mahavir Jayanti - April 16 , 2011

 Mahavir Janma Kalyanak - The Jain community celebrates the birth anniversary of the 24th and the last Tirthankara(Jain Prophets), Vardhman Mahavir, the founder of Jainism as Mahavir Jayanti every year.


Mahavir(son of Siddhartha and Trisala,(king of Kaundinyapura on the outskirts of Vaishali near Patna in Bihar) was born on the 13th day of the rising moon of Chaitra, in either 599 BC or 615 BC (depending on religious tradition)
According to the Digambar school of Jainism, Lord Mahavira was born in the year 615 BC.However,the Swetambaras believe that He was born in 599 BC.
Sects
The main sects now are the Digambaras and Shvetambaras, with the latter again divided into Deravasis and Sthanakvasis. While the Deravasis visit the temples and worship the statue of Mahavir, the Sthanakvasis emphasise the internalisation of the faith. Mahavir himself was against idol worship
 
Mahavir grew up as a prince, excelling in physical prowess and intellectual acumen.
Mahavir renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and undertook austere penance until he achieved realisation.

On Mahavir Jayanthi, Jain temples are decorated with flags,the jains make offerings of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to the poor people that day,Pilgrims from all parts of the country visit the ancient Jain Temples at Pawapuri, Kundalpur and Parsvanath on this day.

Lord Mahavir was a great teacher who taught humanity the true path of happiness. His teachings on complete nonviolence and the importance of austerity showed the path to achieving salvation and spirituality.
Mahavira initiated a simple five-fold path for the householders:-
1) Ahimsa (Non-injury - physical or mental - to others)
2) Asteya (non-stealing)
3) Brahmacharya (temperance in sexual pleasures)
4) Aparigraha (non-acquisition of property)

பகவான் மகாவீரர்
கொல்லாமை, பொய்யாமை, களவு செய்யாமை, பேராசை கொள்ளாமை முதலிய நல்லறங்களை மக்களுக்கு வலியுறுத்தியவர். மக்களிடம் கேள்வி கேட்டு, அவர்கள் தரும் பதில்கள் மூலம் தனது சிந்தனைகளைப் பரப்பியவர்

 Jains are in minority in India. According to census 2001 of India, there population in India is 4.22 million.

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