Mahavira and his Philosophy of Life

Author(s): Kamalchand Sogani
Publisher: Jain Vidya Samsthan

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noteworthy." All this speaks of Jainism as a pre-Vedic religion and Rsabhadeva as its founder. It is significant to point out here that the twenty-third Tirthańkara Pārsvanātha who was born at Vārānasi in 877 B.C. attained Nirvana at Mt. Sammedasikharaji (Pärasanātha Hill in Bihar) "revived the teachings of the earlier Tirthankaras in a very forceful manner". His father was Visvasena, who was the king of Varanasi, and his mother was Vāmā. He spent 30 years of his life as a . householder, and afterwards he led a life of a monk. After following a strenuous life of austerities he attained perfection, and after completing hundred years of his life, he embraced final emancipation on the summit of mount Sammedasikhara (Pārasanātha Hill) in Bihar 250 years before Mahāvira attained Nirvāṇa. Mahavira Mahāvira is the twenty-fourth Tirthankara who attained Nirvāna at Pavā in Bihar at the age of 72 on Tuesday the 15th Oct. 527 B.C. This day is being celebrated as the Dipävali festival (festival of lamps) throughout India. Besides, Mahāvira's Nirvāna day marks the beginning of Vira Nirvāna Samvat. This Samvat is the oldest Sasvat rampant in India. It should be borne in mind that Mahāvira is one of those few towering personalities who fought for individual liberty in the context of social life. He revolted against the economic exploitation and social oppression of man and introduced vigorous innovations in the then existing social law and order. Mahāvira regarded individual and his social responsibility as the key to the progress of both the individual and society. He seems to be aware of the fact that the emphasis on merely individual progress without
Mahavira and his Philosophy of Life