$JES 302 Jain Philosophy Level 3 Book

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 15

LORD MAHÄVIR AND HIS TEACHINGS Chapter 03 - Lord Mahävir and His Teachings
Lord Mahavir is the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankar of the Jain religion of this era. According to Jain philosophy, all Tirthankars were human beings but they attained a state of perfect enlightenment through meditation and self-realization. They are faultless human model. They are known as the "Gods" of Jains. The concept of a supernatural God as creator, protector, and destroyer of the universe does not exist in Jainism.
About 2600 years ago religion in India had taken a very ugly shape. Original classification of the society in the form of four classes had deteriorated. Brahmins considered themselves to be very superior. They looked down upon people of other castes. Fate of Shudras or untouchables was rendered terrible and they were forever condemned to serve other castes. They were required to perform most degraded tasks. They were not allowed to engage in other professions. The importance of sacrifices as a symbol of giving up and renouncing had lost sight of it and it had taken very violent form. Animal sacrifices were regularly performed and people believed that by sacrifices they would gain the favor of gods.
Under such social and religious conditions, Mahävir was born on the thirteenth day of the rising moon half of Chaitra month in 599 B.C. in the state of Bihar, India. This day falls in the month of April as per the Christian calendar. His birthday is celebrated as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak day. His birthplace was Kshatriyakund (also known as Kundalpur), which was a part of famous Vaishali republic in the present Indian State of Bihar. His father's name was Siddhartha who was the king of Kshatriyakund. His mother's name was Trishalä. She was the sister of Chetak, the king of Vaishali.
JAIN PHILOSOPHY AND PRACTICE I