Mahavira Jayanti

Mahavira Jayanti

March-April; 13th day of waxing half of Hindu month of Caitra

A major Jain festival in India, Mahavira Jayanti is dedicated to Vardhamana (6th century b.c.e.), who came to be known as Mahavira, meaning "great hero" of the Jains. The festival celebrates his birthday, and is marked with prayers, fasting, and recitations. The holiday is observed with special fanfare by eastern Indians at Pawapuri in the state of Bihar, where Mahavira was born near the modern town of Patna. Another large celebration is held at the Parasnatha temple in Calcutta.
Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha, is regarded by the Jains as the 24th and last in a series of Tirthankaras, or enlightened teachers or "ford-makers," and present-day Jainism is traced to his life and teachings. For 12 1 + 2 years, he was an ascetic, wandering about, begging for food, and wearing little. Then he found enlightenment, became a Jina, meaning "conqueror," and a Tirthankara. He taught for 30 years before he died. Jainism today continues to be an ascetic religion, practiced by about 3.5 million people. They reject any action that could harm a living being, and some, therefore, wear masks over their mouths to prevent the chance of breathing in and thus killing an insect. Jains, with a strong literary tradition, have played an important role in conserving the writings of non-Jain Hindu authors.
See also Dewali

CONTACTS:
Ministry of Tourism, Government of India
Rm. No 123, Transport Bhawan, No. 1, Parliament St.
New Delhi, Delhi 110 001 India
91-11-23715084; fax: 91-11-23715084
www.tourisminindia.com

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EncyRel-1987, vol. 9, p. 128
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 258
OxDictWrldRel-1997, p. 602
RelHolCal-2004, p. 195