MAHAVIR JANMA KALYANAK

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Context: The Vice President greeted the people of the nation on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.

About Mahavir:

• Mahavira also known as Vardhamana was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha.
• Mahavira was born in the early part of the 6th century BCE into a royal family in Bihar, India.
• His mother's name was Trishala and his father's name was Siddhartha. They were lay devotees of Parshvanatha.
• Mahavira abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of about 30 and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening, becoming an ascetic.
• Mahavira practiced intense meditation and severe austerities for 12 and a half years, after which he attained Kevala Gyan(omniscience).
• He preached for 30 years and attained Moksha (salvation) in the 6th century BCE, although the year varies by sect.
• Historically, Mahavira, who preached Jainism in ancient India, was an older contemporary of Gautama Buddha. Scholars variously date him from the 6th to 5th century BCE, and his place of birth is also a point of dispute among them.
• Mahavira taught that observance of the vows of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-attachment) are necessary for spiritual liberation.
• He taught the principles of Anekantavada (many-sided reality):syadvada and nayavada.
• Mahavira's teachings were compiled by Indrabhuti Gautama (his chief disciple) as the Jain Agamas.
• Mahavira is usually depicted in a sitting or standing meditative posture, with the symbol of a lion beneath him.
• His birth is celebrated as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak and his nirvana (salvation) and also his first shishya (spiritual enlightenment) of Shri Gautama Swami is observed by Jains as Diwali.
• According to Jain cosmology, 24 Tirthankaras have appeared on earth; Mahavira is the last Tirthankara of Avasarpiṇī.
• He was one of the most illustrious spiritual Gurus of ancient India.
• Bhagwan Mahavir epitomized the virtues of truth, compassion and non-violence.
• Through his teachings and austere lifestyle, he inspired the people to be merciful and lead a moral and principled life.

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1816486