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JAIN FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS Mahavir Janma-Kalyanak (Mahavir Jayanti): This is the birth anniversary of Bhagvän Mahävir. We celebrate this day in various ways At present the birth event is celebrated by expressing Bhagvän Mahävir's message through cultural activities like play, songs, and dances. This day reminds us the supreme compassion of Bhagvän Mahävir and the path to liberation he has preached. There is no universally acceptable consensus on the exact date of Bhagvän Mahävir. According to the Digambar tradition, Lord Mahävir was born in the year 615 B.C, in the city of Vaishali. However most scholars and Shvetämbars believe that He was born in 599 B.C. In the city of Kshatriya kunda in Lachhavad district. On this day we get together to hear Mahävir's message expounded, so that we can follow his teachings and example. According to the Indian calendar, it was the thirteenth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra. He was the son of Siddhartha and Trishalä. The expectant mother had fourteen auspicious dreams per Shvetämbar tradition (sixteen per Digambars) before the child was born. Astrologers interpreting these dreams stated that the child would be either a supreme king or a Tirthankar.
Diwali: Diwali is the most important festival in India. For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of Moksha by Mahävir-swami in 527 BC. The festival falls on the last day of the month of Ashvin, the end of the year in the Indian calendar. But the celebration starts in the early morning of the previous day as Lord Mahävir commenced his last sermon (final discourse known as Uttaradhyayan), which lasted until the night of Diwali. At midnight, he soul left his body and attained liberation, Moksha. Eighteen kings of northern India were present in his audience at the time of His final sermon. They decided that the light of their master's knowledge should be kept alive symbolically by lighting of lamps. Hence it is called Deepavali or Diwali, (Deep means a lamp and avail means series or multiple). But the light of Lord Mahävir's knowledge cannot be kept alive by just lighting the lamps. That is an external approach. Realistically, we should light up our internal lamps - awaken our inner vision by practicing the path preached by Lord Mahävir. As a traditional Diwali lamp needs a clay bowl, oil, and cotton wick. The inner lamp needs the right faith, right knowledge, right conduct and right Tap (austerity). External lamps needs oxygen while internal lamp needs self-effort. The resolution to adopt the practice of good conduct is the way to celebrate the Diwali. Some fast for two days as Lord Mahävir did. Some people recite "Shri Mahavir Swami Sarvajnäya Namah" on every bead of the rosary (108 beads in one rosary) first followed by 19 rosaries of reciting "Shri Mahävir Swami Päragataya Namah" on each bead. In brief, Diwali is for enhancing the spiritual wealth.
From a social aspect it is celebrated in traditional Indian fashion by greeting and offering sweets to family, friends and neighbors. Jain businessmen would close their accounts for the year and perform a simple Puja for the new account books.
New Year: Lord Mahävir's chief disciple, Indrabhuti Gautam, had not been able to overcome his attachment to his master and that prevented him from achieving Kevaljnän. The barrier was only broken after a period of grief over his master's Nirvan. He at last managed to achieve the highest degree of non-attachment, which enabled him to attain the stage of omniscience, the full
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JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I
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