Hindu Society of North Carolina

Author(s): Hindu Society of North Carolina
Publisher: Hindu Society of North Carolina

Page 42

40 Page
MAHAVIR SWAMI महावीर स्वामी
Karnataka. These temples are popular today, not only as famous pilgrim spots, but also as works of great architecture.
Lord Mahavir was the twenty fourth and last Tirthankar of the Jain religion. According to the Jain philosophy, all Tirthankars were born as human beings but they attained a state of perfection or enlightenment through meditation and self realization. They are the Gods of Jains. Tirthankars are also know as Arihants or Jinas. This nomenclature is explain below;
Tirthankar - One who establishes the four fold order (Monk, Nun, Layman and Laywoman) of religion?
Arihant - One who destroys his inner enemies like anger, greed, passion, ego etc.
श्री मंगलदीवो Jina-One who conquers his inner enemies like anger, greed, passion, ego, etc. The followers of Jina are knows as Jains.
दीवो रे दीवो प्रभु मांगलिक दीवो Mahavir was born in 599 BC in a village called Kunda in
आरती ऊतारण वह चिरंजीवो ॥ दीवो Bihar, his father Siddhartha was an important nobleman सोहामण घेर पर्व दीवाली ॥ दीवो from the Kshatriya dynasty. His mother's name was
अंम्बर खेले अमरावाली ॥ दीवो Trishala. Mahavir was named Vardhaman by his
दीपाल भणे अने कुल अजवाली parents, and showed signs of spiritualism from his early भावे भक्ते विघ्न निवारी ॥ दीवो days. At the age of 5, he was sent to a Gurukul to study
दीपाल भणे तेने ओ कलीकाले
आरती ऊतारी राजा कुमार पाले।। दीवो Sanskrit and became a great scholar.
अम धर मांगल्कि तुम घेर मांगलिक
मांगलिक चतुर विधि संघने होजो ॥ He traveled far and wide, expanding his knowledge and
दीवो subsequently his perceptions of the world at large. And then, one day he attained 'Kaivalya' or enlightenment
DEEVO RE DEEVO while sitting under a tree on the banks of a river. Henceforth he was to be known as Mahavir, as he was freed from the boundaries of sadness and joy, pain and Deevo re deevo prabhu pleasure. His teachings were greatly appreciated in
mangalika deevo
Aarati utharine bahu chiransivo; North India for 30 years, and had in its following, the
Soharano ghera parva Diwali, King of Magadha. He preached that truth and clean
Ambara khele amara-wali:
Dipala bhane aney kula ajuwali, living were the priorities in life, as was non-violence. Till
Bhave bhagate vighana niwari; today, Jains do not even harm a fly or a mosquito. Many Dipala bhani aney ye kali-kaale followers tie a cloth around their nose, so as not to
Aarati utari raja Kumaarpaale; breathe in or destroy living organisms in the
Ama ghere mangalika thuma
ghere mangalika, atmosphere.
Mangalika chaturvidha sangha ne
hojo. He died in 527 BC at Parapuri in Bihar, and left behind a legacy of thought and some beautiful temples like the Dilwara in Mt. Abu, Rajasthan and Shravanbelagola in
HINDU SOCIETY OF NORTH CAROLINA CELFBERATION AND APPRICIATION (1976-2006)