Introduction to Jainism and its Culture

SR No.: 001605
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Balbhadra Jain
Publisher: Kundkund Gyanpith Indore
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 334
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Religion, & Culture
File Size: 21 MB

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Commemorative festivals - These are the festivals that have become popular due to specific incidents. These include the dates of the auspicious events in the life of Tirthankaras. Each Tīrthankara has five auspicious events but all these events connected with all Tirtharkaras are not celebrated as festivals. The birth and nirvana days of Bhagavāna Rşabhadeva, omniscience and nirvana days of Bhagavāna Pārsvanātha, and birth and nirvana days of Bhagavāna Mahāvīra are celebrated with great enthusiasm and fanfare. Some other commemorative festivals are listed as follows -
Rsabha Jayanti - On Caitra krsņā ninth the birth anniversary of Bhagavāna Rşabhadeva is celebrated.
Akşaya Trtīya - After getting initiated Bhagavāna Rşabhadeva indulged in austerities for six months in complete silence. After this fasting for six months Bhagavāna set out to get food. At that time no one knew about procedure of offering suitable food to ascetics. He wandered for six months without getting any food. One day he arrived outside Hastinapur. Śreyāṁsa, the younger brother of King Somaprabha of Hastinapur, recited panegyric of Bhagavāna with navadhā bhakti (formal nine styles of expressing devotion). As soon as he saw Bhagavāna he recalled an incident from his earlier birth. Then Bhagavāna Rşabhadeva was Vajrajangha and Śreyāṁsa was his wife Śrimati. The couple had offered āhāras (food) to two ascetics with Cāraņa Ķddhi (a type of miraculous power). As soon as he recalled this incident he became aware of the procedure of offering alms. He did formal worship of Bhagavāna and following due procedure offered him fresh sugar-cane juice filled in pitchers and readily available in the palace. Bhagavāna accepted the juice in his cupped palms with a feeling of complete detachment. This was the first instance of an ascetic accepting alms. It was the third day (trtiya) of Vaišākha śukla. Since that day this date on which the first ascetic was given his first alms is celebrated as Akşaya Trtīya festival.
Śruta Pañcami - Ācārya Dharasena was meditating in the Candra cave on Giranāra hill. He had complete knowledge of Ācārānga and partial knowledge of the remaining Angas. With his knowledge of augury he could know that he was fast approaching the end of his life span. My knowledge will be lost with my death unless I impart it to some
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