Mahavir Jayanti 2019- It is one of the most important Jain festivals. The festival is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Mahavir. Lord Mahavir was the twenty fourth and last Tirthankara of Avasarpini. As per the Georgian calendar, the festival occurs on every year either in March or in April. This festival is also known as “Mahavir Jamma Kalyanak”.
Mahavir Jayanti 2019: Date
Mahavir Jayanti will be celebrated on April
Birth Legend of Lord Mahavir
Kundagram which is located at the Champaran district of Bihar is said to be the birthplace of Lord Mahavir. According to the Jain texts, Lord Mahavir was born on the thirteenth day of bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra in the year 599 BCE. Mahavir was born in Vajji whi
Lord Mahavir was named as “Vardhamana” which literally means one who grows with the prosperity of his kingdom. Mahavir was widely respected in his kingdom and among the villagers. A place called Ahalya Bhumi has not been ploughed since ages because this is considered to be the birth place of Lord Mahavir.
Lord Mahavir was born into Ikshvaku dynasty to the king Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Queen Trishala. During her pregnancy period only, the queen used to have regular dreams that a noble religious soul is coming into the world.
Mahavir Jayanti 2019: Celebrations Rituals
Mahavir Jayanti is grandly celebrated on the birthday of Lord Mahavir. Possession in the form of Rath Yatra is also carried out which showcases the idol of Lord Mahavir. Bhajans and many other religious praises of Lord Mahavir
Abhishekam is performed on the idol of Lord Mahavir. Fruits, flowers, seeds along with milk is offered to Lord Mahavir. Many devotees of Lord Mahavir irrespective of their religion come together and visit the temple and sing songs about his praises.
Majority of Lord Mahavir’s teachings were concentrated on Ahisma. On this day, people try to show their love and affection towards living creatures. Charity is also promoted during this day and even food, clothes and other things are distributed among the needy people.
Large crowd of devotees gather around the Mahavir temple. In India one of the biggest Mahavir Jayanti celebrations take place at Hanumantal Jain Temple at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
Devotees are seen indulged in 100% vegetarian food on that day. They mostly have sweets, fruits and stay away from garlic and onion.
History of Mahavir Jayanti
Lord Mahavir’s Spiritual Awakening
Lord Mahavir had a blessed childhood. He lived in prosperity and grace as he was born in a prosperous kingdom. His parents were ardent devotees of twenty third Tirthankara, Parshvanatha. This had an influence of Mahavir’s personality as well.
Lord Mahavir took the path of solitary at a very young age. He left his home, kingdom and the royal life at the age of thirty. He even went ahead and abandoned his clothes. He sat for twelve years under a sal tree at the banks of Rijupalika river which was near to a place called Jrimbhikagrama which is located in the Bihar state.
At the age of fourty two, he attained infinite wisdom and knowledge. He travels through different parts of India to spread his knowledge and wisdom. He had a huge number of followers including 14000 male, 36000 nuns and another half a million male and female followers.
As per the ancient mythological legend of Jainism, lord Mahavir took 27 re-births before he was born as a Mahavir in the sixth century.
Earlier Mahavir Jayanti celebrations were only limited to the temple celebrations. Devotees used to gather at the temple and celebrate it with the utmost spiritual belief. In past some years, Mahavir Jayanti celebrations have become much more grand and bigger in scale. Now a days, the procession goes out and the idol of lord Mahavir is displayed and circulated in this possession.
Significance of Mahavir Jayanti
Mahatma Gandhi also widely used to praise and follow the discipline and principles of Lord Mahavir. He always used to say that Lord Mahavir is the biggest follower of non violence and peace.
On his birthday, people remember his teachings and philosophies and try to practice the same. The birth of Mahavir and the festival of Mahavir Jayanti has become much more significant because there are very few festivals and celebrations in Jain religion.
This festival gives us a deep insight and a chance to know more about the Jain culture and tradition. Millions admire and respect the sanctity that Jain culture has. The life of lord Mahavir and his difficult way of attaining spiritual freedom made way to serve inspiration for a number of people even beyond Jain religion.
Mahavir Jayanti is not only important as a festival but it is also important to remind ourselves that we human being should spread love and not hatred among ourselves. Every individual should remember that they have no right to kill anyone be it an animal or even a human being.
This festival brings us closer to nature and teaches us that nothing is over and above the nature. You must learn to respect the nature and motherly earth and this will reflect in your life principles.
In the year 2019, Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated on 17th April. This festival is observed as a major holiday at number of places. At many places it is also observed as a Government holiday. Most of us only enjoy our holiday and spend our time with our family or either we are buzy in our own activities. None of us bother to know what is the real significance of this festival.
Let us know what you thought about this festival or if any of you celebrate this festival in the comments down below. Since India is a land of mix religion and culture, we also have huge number of festivals. It would be really interesting to see how do you celebrate this festival in the comments down below.
