Bhagavana Mahavira and his Relevance in Modern Times

Author(s): Narendra Bhanavat, Prem Suman Jain, V P Bhatt
Publisher: Akhil Bharat Varshiya Sadhumargi Jain Sangh

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Mahāvira and His Philosophy of Life
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Videha at whose call Licchavis as Mallas cooperated both for defence and offence. Tradition is not unanimous about his marriage; according to the one, he was a celibate throughout; while according to another he married Yaśodā and had a daughter called Priyadarśanā. As a prince, having excellent connections with ruling dynasties of his times, it was expected of him to rule with authority and enjoy the pleasures of a prosperous career after his father. But that was not to be. Just at the age of 30, Mahāvīra decided like a hero to relinquish the comforts of a princely life and undertook the life of an ascetic with a view to attain spiritual happiness, and thus place before the world the correct values of life and an example of his having solved its problems in a successful manner. Attachment and possessive instincts have been the greatest obstacles in the attainment of spiritual peace and purification; and he gave them up in an ideal manner. Physical comforts are not an end in themselves; and Mahāvira became a Nirgrantha, and went about practising severe penances, even without any clothes on his body. We have graphic description of his hardships given in detail in the Ācārānga, etc; people abused him, boys pelted him with stones, and thus he was subjected to many calamities in the Eastern part of Bengal. After twelve years of rigorous penances, Mahāvira had a truimph over physical weaknesses and limitations; and he attained pure and perfect knowledge which transcended the limits of space and time; he became a Kevali, a Sarvajña. Srenika Bimbasāra was his contemporary and was ruling at Rājagraha; Mahāvīra delivered his first sermon on the hill Vipulācala in the vicinity of Rajagraha. For full thirty years he visited different parts of the country; and it was his Vibāra, or religious tour, as well as that of Buddha, that gave Magadhan territory the name of Bihar Mahāvīra's parents belonged to the school of Pārsva. During his Vihāra, Mahāvira explained to his society various problems of life and their solutions. He laid maximum stress on the sanctity and dignity of the spirit, and, his preachings were meant for one and all who conformed to the religious discipline outlined by him. The organisation of his followers, including princes as well as poor peasants, conformed to the fourfold pattern consisting of Monks, Nuns, Householders and House-ladies; this nomenclature continues in Jainism even to this day. The influence of the great principles preached by Mahāvīra is seen in India even outside Jainism. He was a Tirthankara,