2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav

Context

Recently, the Prime Minister of India inaugurated the 2550th Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Mahotsav on the eve of Mahaveer jayanti at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.

Mahaveer Jayanti

• It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the closing Tirthankara and the founder of Jainism.
• Mahavira was born on the 13th day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Chaitra, which usually falls in March or April.

About Mahavira Jain

• Birth and Early Life:

• • • He was born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala of the Ikshvaku dynasty, in 540 BC at Kshatriyakund (a part of the widely recognized Vaishali republic) in Bihar.
    • He was named Vardhaman, which means continuously increasing.
    • He was a kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a collection that was a part of the Vajji Sangha.
    • Though he was born with worldly comforts and luxuries, they in no way attracted him and at the age of 30, he left domestic and went to live in a woodland. For twelve years he led a difficult and lonely life.

• Kevaljnan

• • • At the age of 42 he attained Kevaljnan (omniscience) through right knowledge, right faith and right conduct (Three Jewels of Jainism).
    • He was a Jina (conqueror) and the 24th tirthankara.
      • Rishabh Deva was the primary tirthankara.

• Teachings and Contributions

• • All living beings have a soul and all souls are equal.
  • He puzzled the authority of the Vedas and also emphasized individual agency and suggested the masses to attain liberation from the trials and tribulations of worldly existence.
    • This was in marked contrast to the Brahmanical function, wherein, an individual’s life was thought to be decided by his or her birth in a specific caste or gender.
  • He delivered one more vow to the four great vows from the time of Lord Parshvanath. The 5 great vows are:

1. Ahimsa (non-violence);
2. Satya (truth);
3. Asteya (non-stealing);
4. Aparigraha (non-possession);
5. Brahmacharya (chastity, introduced through Mahavira).

• There are two forms of those five vows:
  • Mahavrata: The five great vows observed by Jain priests and nuns.
  • Anuvrata: The less strict model of notable vows accompanied by using Jain lay human beings.
• As the last Tirthankar, he revived the Tirth (non secular order) and this order is called the Jain Sangh (order).

• Language

• • • He used Prakrit language so that ordinary people could understand the teachings as Sanskrit was not understood by many.
    • There have been numerous forms of Prakrit, used in distinct elements of the country and named after the regions wherein they had been used.
      • For instance, the Prakrit spoken in Magadha was referred to as Magadhi Prakrit.

• Death

• • He attained mahaparinirvana at the age of 70 at Pavapuri near Patna in 468 BC and became a Siddha (free from the cycle of birth and demise).

About Jainism

• • The word Jain comes from the time period Jina, which means conqueror.
  • The simple philosophy was already in existence in North India before the birth of Lord Mahavira.
  • According to Jain subculture, Mahavira was preceded by 23 tirthankaras (teachers), literally, those who guide men and women across the river of existence.
  • The most critical idea in Jainism is that the whole world is lively and even stones, rocks and water have life.
  • Non-damage to living beings, specially to people, animals, flowers and bugs, is vital to Jain philosophy.
  • According to Jain teachings, the cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma and asceticism and penance are required to unfastened oneself from the cycle of karma. 
    • This can be executed only by renouncing the world, consequently, monastic life is a necessary condition of salvation. In order to achieve this, Jain monks and nuns had to take the five vows.

• Seven Tattvas (elements) of Jain Philosophy

• • Jiva (living substance);
  • Ajiva (matter or non-living substance);
  • Asrava (influx of Karmic matter in the soul);
  • Bandha (bondage of soul by Karmic matter);
  • Samvara (stopping of Asrava);
  • Nirjara (gradual removal of Karmic matter);
  • Moksha (attainment of perfect freedom or salvation).

Source: Indian Express

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q.With reference to the religious practices in India, the “Sthanakvasi” sect belongs to (2018)

a) Buddhism

b) Jainism

c) Vaishnavism 

d) Shaivism 

Ans: “b”

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