Mahavira and his Teaching

Author(s): C C Shah, Rishabhdas Ranka, Dalsukh Malvania
Publisher: Bhagwan Mahavir 2500th Nirvan Mahotsava Samiti

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زبر - Editorial Note
Bhagavān Mahāvīra who as a great religious leader dominated sixth century B. G. in India is one of the greatest champions of dignity of man. According to him even the gods crave for human birth and are inferior to men. To have the freedom from bondage is the exclusive right of man according to him. Thus he is the first amongst other religious leaders to establish the human-right for freedom. Not only this he was the first amongst all religious leader to proclaim that all living beings have equal right to live on this earth and so no one should be killed for the selfish end. This type of non-violence was preached for the first time by him proclaiming the Sāmā yika. i.e., equality for all the living beings. This Samā yika was the basic vow for the aspirant for freedom. And he said that one cannot be a non-violent person unless he rejects all his possessions, i.e., he should be free from desire and attachment.
Science has made great progress in achieving the human comforts no doubt but the human community has become greedy and violent and the invention of the atom bomb in the hand of some is a great threat not only to the human society as a whole but to all the living beings. In such circumstances it is necessary to remember our ancient preachers like Mahāvīra and Buddha who have found out the way of liberation, freedom and peace for the living beings.
In view of the fact that 2500th year of Nirvāṇa of Bhagavān Mahāvīra, the last Tirthařkara of the Jainas was due on 13th Nov. 1974, the Jaina Community established the "Bhagavān Mahāvíra 2500th Nirvāņa Mahotsava Samiti" in Bombay in 1968 for the celebrations of the historic event in a proper manner. Lord Mahāvīra was not the leader of the Jainas only. He was one of the many great men produced by humanity throughout the world in the past. And hence the Government of India also took interest in celebrations and sponsored the celebrations throughout India.