Jainism For Beginners Level 02

Author(s): Sayampurnashreeji
Publisher: Sayampurnashreeji

Page 38

DIWALI
n i wali is the most important
festival in India. For Jains, Diwali marks the anniversary of the attainment of Moksha by Mahavir-Swami in 527 BC. The festival falls on the last day of the month of Ashvin, the end of the year in the Indian calendar. But the celebration starts in the early morning of the previous day as Lord Mahavir commenced His last sermon (final discourse known as Uttaradhyayan), which lasted until the night of Diwali. At midnight, the soul left His body & attained liberation - Moksha. Eighteen kings of northern India were present in His audience at the time of His final sermon. They decided that the light of their master's knowledge should be kept alive symbolically by lighting of lamps. Hence it is called Deepavali or Diwali, (Deep means a lamp & avali means series or multiple). But the light of Lord Mahavir's knowledge cannot be kept alive by just lighting the lamps. That is an external approach. Realistically, we should light up our internal lamps - awaken our inner vision by practicing the path preached by Lord Mahavir. As a traditional Diwali lamp needs a clay bowl, oil, & cotton wick, the inner lamp needs the right faith, right knowledge, right conduct & right Tap (austerity). External lamps needs oxygen while internal lamp needs self-effort. The resolution to adopt the practice of good
conduct
ODDSON is the way he way
Ocene to celebrate the Diwali. Some fast for two days as Lord Mahavir did. Some people recite “Shri Mahavir Swami Sarvajnaya Namah" on every bead of the navakarvali (108 beads in I navakarvali) first followed by twenty navakarvalies of reciting "Shri Mahavir Swami Paarangataya Namah" on each bead. In brief, Diwali is for enhancing the spiritual wealth.
JAIN FESTIVALS CELEBRATIONS
From a social aspect it is celebrated in traditional Indian fashion by greeting & offering sweets to family, friends & neighbours. Jain businessmen would close their accounts for the year & perform a simple Puja for the new account books.
NEW YEAR
ord Mahavir's chief disciple,
Indrabhuti Gautam, had not been able to overcome his attachment to his master & that prevented him from