Jain Center Columbia SC 1997 05 Mahavira Swami Murti Pratistha

Author(s): Jain Center Columbia SC
Publisher: USA Jain Center Columbia SC

Page 13

BHAGVAN (LORD) MAHAVIRA
Lord Mahavira is the "Founder" of Jainism as it is practised today. One who finds the four part Sangha (Sadhu, Sadhvi, Shravanka and Shravika) or Tirtha ( a dock) is called Tirthankara. The current twenty four Tirthankara span several thousand years.
The last and the most recent Tirthankar (24"), MAHAVIRA, was an historical personality who was born with three GYANAS (Mati, Shruti and Avadhi) in 599 B.C, as a prince to king Siddhartha and Queen Trishladevi in the town of Vaishali (Bihar) in northern India.
Since Mahavira's birth, his family saw their RIDDHI - SIDDHI - wealth, prestige, crops and everything - increase. So they named him VARDHAMANA (Incremental). Ever since his childhood, he was soft, kind hearted. He was very upset by the ritual sacrifice of animals, and vowed to fight for the rights of animals. He later married the beautiful princess Yashoda and they had an adorable daughter Priyadarshana.
Mahavira as a prince, having excellent connection with ruling dynasties of his times, but he left his kingdom at the age of 30 to take a vow of monkhood called "DIKSHA" or initiation. He attained the fourth GNYANA - Manah Paryava Gnyana or being able to read other people's mind. He entered the forest to communicate with every living being, including plants, trees, animals. He practiced meditation, austerity and Samadhi for 12-1/2 years to get enlightenment. By self purification and severe spiritual practices. Finally, at the age of 42, He attained the fifth GYANA - Kaivalya (Keval Gyana) which is the highest type of knowledge - PERFECTION. For the next 30 years, he spread the message of NON-VIOLENCE, TRUTH, NON-STEALING, RIGHT CONDUCT and NON-POSSESSION. Lord Mahavira gave us several analytical theories of Karma, Multiplicity of truth, Syadvad etc. All these theories help the human being reaching highest level of consciousness and create happiness and peace in society. His preaching Right Knowing, Right Vision and Right Conduct are considered there Jewels of Jain philosophy which means to achieve the ultimate goal in life. The symbol of Lord Mahavira is Lion indicating a fearless life he lived. He is the most important of all the Tirthankaras, as most of Jain scriptures are spoken by him. Lord Mahavira advocated 'AHIMSA' which was further carried by great men of history including Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. He attained "NIRVANA" at the age of 72 at Pavapuri in Bihar.
Jain Education Intemational