Significance of the Jain religious festival Mahavir Jayanthi
Posted on: 29/Mar/2018 3:56:52 PM
Mahavir Jayanthi is celebrated on the 13th of the Hindu calendar month of Chaithra - usually, this occurs March or April.
Mahavir Jayanthi is the holiest festival for the Jain community people and this year, it falls on 29th March.
The festival marks the birth anniversary of the Lord Mahavir, who was the last saviour (‘Theerthankara’) and the spiritual guide of Jainism.
Lord Mahavir
Lord Mahavir was the last and 24th Theerthankara. His birthday falls on the 13th of the Hindu Calendar month of Chaithra. This occasion is also known by another name ‘Mahavir Janma Kalyanak’ as the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.
Lord Mahavira was a proponent of non-violence and preached the need to be loving and kind of all other living things. He translated these values and founded the religion of Jainism.
He was born in the palace of Vaishali to King Siddhartha and the Queen Trisala. When grown up, he ascended the throne and ruled for over 30 years. After that, he gave up all his earthly possessions and the redundancies of life to seek enlightenment.
Celebrations
The deity of Lord Mahavira is carried on a chariot and in a procession known as ‘Rath Yathra’. Bhajans or slokas are chanted during the procession by the devotees.
On this holy day. The Jain Community people take up charitable work by way of repayment for the kindness God has accorded to them. They visit temples dedicated to Lord Mahavira and offer prayer meets.
The religious leaders – the monks and the priests – hold lectures and preach the path of virtue defined by Jainism.
Food plays an important role in the celebrations. ‘Satvik’ diets, sans onion and garlic, are prepared. The food is prepared taking care to ensure no or minimum harms to other living creatures.
