Mahavir Jayanti is the biggest Jain festival
celebrated in India to commemorate the birth anniversary of Lord
Mahavira. Mahavira is believed to be the son of Siddhartha and Trisala.
His birth year however is a matter of controversy between the two sects
of Jainism. Digambaras believe it to be 615 BC while Swetambaras believe
that Mahavira was born in 599 BC. According to the legend, He was
conceived by a Brahmin called Rishabhdeva's wife, Devananda, which was
transferred as an embryo to the womb of Trisala by Gods. The expectant
mother was believed to have seen 14 auspicious dreams (according to
Swetambara sect) or 16 dreams (according to Digambara sect). Astrologers
interpreted them to predict that the child would be either a mighty
emperor or the 24th Tirthankar. Queen Trishala is believed to have felt
no pain associated with childbirth.
Jains visit the sacred sites and go on pilgrimages to holy places on
this day and worship Teerthankars. The Mahavir Jayanthi celebration in
Gujarat and Rajasthan, the ancient shrines at Girnar and Palitana; in
Calcutta, the Parasnath temple; and at Pawapuri in Bihar holds a special
significance. Mahavir was believed to be born at Kshatriyakund near
modern Patna in Bihar to the religious king and queen and led the
humanity to the path of true happiness. The auspicious occasion falls on
the first day of Bhadrapad (according to the Hindu calenda) and a grand
cradle procession is taken out on the streets on this day and there is a
general celebration of the auspicious day. It is believed that Mahavira
was born at four in the morning, a very auspicious time in Jainism and
Hinduism and that at that exact moment, all life forms in all the three
worlds were content and cheerful.
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Festivals of India |
