________________
In Search of the Ultimate
bondage. All misery has disappeared and now nine centuries have passed. This is the 80th year of the 10th century".
(Note:--The time when Kalpa-Sutra was first "penned down" by Devardhi-Gani is 980 years after Lord Mahavir's death i.e. 453 AD).
The five auspicious events in the life of Lord Mahavir were:
Conception Birth Renunciation Enlightenment Death=Nirvana
600 BC 599 BC 569 BC 557 BC 527 BC
WARS
He preached the principles of Jainism as we know them now. He said . Everyone wants pleasure and happiness, no one wants misery but those who are ignorant and attached to worldly pleasures suffer again and again. One who knows other people's misery does not pursue worldly pleasures and avoids sinful acts.. Those who can avoid the cycle of sinful acts can obtain liberation. His message is simple "No one should try to obtain happiness at the expense of others". Mahavir recognised this fact or rather, he was the first one in human history to say that plants have life and that they feel pain when cut.
This was his message of living in harmony with nature, all birds, animals and fellow human beings. He died (Nirvana or moksha) in 527 BC, when he was 72 years old. Jainism recognises the sanctity of all life. As a community, Jains run panjrapoles, which look after sick and invalid cattle. They feed hungry animals and birds as part of their act of jiv-daya (kindness towards all living beings)
34
