$JES 202 Jain Story Book Level 2 Book

SR No.: 000121
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee
Publication Year: 2005
Total Pages: 160
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Jaina_Education, 0_Jaina_education, & JAINA Books
File Size: 22 MB

Page 17

BHAGAWÄN MAHÄVIR
Janma (Birth) Kalyänak Mahävir was born in the month of Chaitra on the 13th day of the waxing (increasing in size) cycle of the moon in 599 BCE as per the Indian calendar. This day falls in the month of April and is celebrated as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak day. He was born in the region known as Kshatriya-kund or kundalpur in the present-day state of Bihar, India. His parents were King Siddhartha and Queen Trishalä. Queen Trishalä was the sister of King Chetak, the King of Vaishäli. There was great rejoicing in the country. Since the moment the Tirthankar's soul was conceived, there was continued enhancement in the glory, wealth, health and fame of the kingdom, and respect and goodwill for the family. This is the reason the baby was named Vardhamän, which means ever-increasing prosperity. Vardhaman (Bhagawan Mahävir) had an older brother named Nandivardhan and a sister named Sudarshanä. Soon after his birth, Indra (King of heavenly gods) took the baby Tirthankar to Mount Meru and performed the birth ceremony (Janma Abhishek) with great rejoicing and
Birth celebration of Bhagawan Mahävir by 56 celebration. After that he returned the baby
female celestial beings to mother Trishala's bedside.
Childhood There are numerous incidences of courage and forgiveness throughout Vardhaman's life as a child and an adult. One day, prince Vardhamän, a young boy of eight, was playing with his friends on the outskirts of the city. At that very moment, Indra, the King of heaven, started praising the courage and fearlessness of prince Vardhamän. Another heavenly god challenged the statement, believing that fear is present in all humans. He decided to test Vardhamän's courage. He assumed the form of a frightening cobra and slithered near the children. All of the boys started screaming, but Mahävir stood there calmly and fearlessly. He gently caught the cobra with his hands and placed it in the grass on the side. The god, who had failed to frighten prince Vardhamän in the form of a cobra, decided to test his bravery once more. Assuming the form of an ordinary child, he joined the group of children and suggested racing to a target tree. The winner was to get a piggyback ride on one of the losers and return to the base. The heavenly god lost the game to prince Vardhamän and offered to carry him on his shoulders. However, as soon as he had the prince on his shoulders, the god assumed a gigantic form. Without any fear, Prince Vardhaman gave a mighty blow to his shoulders with
clenched fists. The god could not withstand the blow and, Mahävir gently caught the cobra
assuming his original form, bowed to the prince and returned to with his hands and placed it in the
heaven. Indra and all the other heavenly gods hailed the victory of grass
prince Vardhaman and exclaimed that he was "Mahavir", meaning "The Great Hero."
JAIN STORY BOOK