MAHAVIRA JAYANTI

10th April 2025

Jain

This is a festival celebrating the birth in 540, 599 or 615 BCE of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, the greatest teacher and model for all Jainas. The events surrounding his birth are retold and re-enacted at all Jain temples. If monks or nuns are present, they will read from the scriptures and teach about the rest of Mahavira’s life. The day is marked with processions, the sending of cards, and the bathing of images of Mahavira. At the end of the day lay people will return home to a celebratory feast with distinctive recipes.

Mahavira’s injunctions for the monks and nuns were however very exacting. Abstinence from every kind of physical comfort and material possession and absolute dedication to the highest ethical and spiritual discipline were enforced. Even today this pure and upright tradition of the monks has been maintained. Thousands of white clad Sanyasins and Sanyasinis and also nude monks move on foot from village to village and town to town, throughout the length and breadth of the country, carrying Mahavira’s gospel of peace, non-injury and brotherhood among people.

Myths and legends abound about the other twenty four great Jain teachers from previous ages, but the birth of Mahavira, the Conqueror, is of central importance in Jain communities everywhere. His influence on the Jain practices of ahimsa (non-violence to others), sharing of knowledge, donating medicines and food, and caring for all living creatures is clearly apparent throughout these celebrations.