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M is for Mahävir
Jain Education International
Mahävir is the 24th Tirthankar*
Lord Mahävir was born in 599 BC in Kshatriya-kund (also known as Kundalpur). His father was King Siddhärtha and his mother was Queen Trishalä**. Soon after it became known that queen Trishalä was pregnant, the people in King Siddhärtha's kingdom began noticing that business and farming were improving. King Siddhärtha believed that this was because Queen Trishalä was going give a birth to a very virtuous son. When the baby was born, they named him "Vardhamän❞ which means ever growing or increasing.
As he grew older, Prince Vardhamän showed himself to be a brave person. Once, while playing with his friends a snake came near them. Everyone was scared except Prince Vardhamän. He remained calm. He gently caught the snake, and put it in a safe place.
Another time, they were playing hide-and-seek. Whoever was caught would have to give a piggyback ride to the winner. A new boy joined the game. Soon, Prince Vardhamän caught him, and the boy gave the Prince a piggyback ride. Suddenly the new boy started to grow taller and scarier. The other boys became scared and ran away. Some of them climbed into a tree, and some ran to tell their parents. While all this was going on, Prince Vardhamän was enjoying the ride. When he realized that the boy was not a real boy but he was a big monster, he gave the demon one blow between the shoulders with his fist. The monster could not take the pain and gave up his giant body. He told Prince Vardhamän that he is not a monster but an angel from heaven. He wanted to test his fearlessness and strength.
JAIN ALPHABET BOOK
M IS FOR MAHÄVIR
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