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Bhagawän Mahävir's Last Sermon at Päväpuri lasting Forty-eight Hours and his Final Liberation
During thirty years of his life as a Tirthankar, Bhagawan Mahavir preached his gospel of Ahimsä to millions of people and initiated thousands of disciples into monk hood. At the age of seventy-two, he came to Päväpuri to spend his final monsoon season. In the month of Ashwin he observed a fast for two days, taking neither food nor water, sat in the lotus posture on a golden lotus and delivered his last and longest sermon, lasting for fortyeight hours, before the four-fold Sangha.
Bhagawan Mahavir's last sermon
This sermon was compiled in the Jain scripture known as Uttarädhyayan Sutra. In the early morning of the new-moon night, the remaining four types of non-destructive Karma were destroyed. And thus with all the eight Karma completely annihilated, his soul soared high and reached the pinnacle of Loka and went to the permanent abode of Siddhas, never to return again. And thus the soul achieved the highest goal of Liberation.
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LIFE OF BHAGAWAN MAHÄVIR Funeral Rites performed by heavenly gods and human beings
All the eighteen rulers of the various states were present at the time of Bhagawän Mahävir's Nirvana. When the light of knowledge was extinguished, they lighted numerous earthen lamps. And it was since then that the Festival of Lights, called Deepavali, is being observed in India. Indra and the other gods flew down to earth to celebrate the fifth Kalyänak. They bathed his body with holy waters, applied sandal paste, dressed the body in rich garments, and decked and adorned him with a crown and other ornaments. He was carried in a palanquin and millions joined the procession to pay their last homage to the great saint. There was solemn music accompanied on musical instruments. The palanquin was placed on a pyre of fragrant sandalwood. The final prayers were offered and the fire was lit.. Later, perfumed water was sprinkled to extinguish the fire. After the final rites were over the gods carried the molars and the bones to heaven.
Funeral pyre of Bhagawan Mahavir
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