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WHY WE REMEMBER MAHẬVÎRA ·
-K. C. S. Dudhoria
It is more than 2,572 years since Lord Mahâvîra was born, and yet we remember him every day. But why? Do we remember him in order to gain anything materially? Do we remember him merely out of reverence for the past ? Certainly not! We remember him because he was one of those great men who stamped infinity on the thought and life of mankind, and who added to the invisible force of goodness in the world.
Lord Mahâvîra's deep wisdom, his omniscient vision, his exquisite courtesy, humility, and gentleness of soul, and his abounding humanity all proclaim that the destiny of man is to know himself and thereby further the universal life of which man is an integral element. We remember him, adore him, idealize him, not because he enunciated a set of principles but because he showed to mankind through his personal life that freedom really exists in self possession, not in material possessions, in self command, not in command over others. So he is known as Jina, the spiritual conqueror; as arihanta, the conqueror of animal instincts; as Mahâvîra, the greatest hero. He is also known as keval Jnani', the personification of true knowledge or, in other words, of universal and final truth. From him we learn the principles of anekantavada, which is nothing but looking at reality from many angles. Reality is complex and inorder to be known should be viewed from many aspects in an attitude not of mere tolerance, but of appreciation of other's points of view. Another thing that we learn from him is samabhava, an attitude towards others which is free from malice and attachment.
If we study the history of Mahâvîra's era it will be quite clear that society was then facing extreme social and economic unrest.
