April 14 is celebrated as #MahavirJayanti. Rightly, it is #MahavirJanmaKalyanak - celebration of the birth of Mahavir swami by #Jains, who is the 24th & last Tirthankar of this Avsarpini. He was born in 599 BC on Chaitra Sud 13 at Kundalpur/Kundagram in today's #Bihar
In Jainism, Panch Kalyanaks are the 5 chief Auspicious events that occur in the life of a Tirthankar.
🔸 Garbha - Conception (when the soul enters the womb)
🔸Janma - Birth
🔸Diksha - Renunciation
🔸Kevalgyan - Omniscience
🔸Moksh - Salvation (2)
🔹His birthday is celebrated as 'Mahavir Janma Kalyanak' & his Nirvan day is observed as 'Deepavali' by Jains.
🔹He was born in 599BC at Kundalpur & attained Moksh in 527BC at Pawapuri, #Bihar.
🔹His chief disciple Gautam attained Kevalgyan the night that he attained Moksh. (3)
Mahavira was born as Vardhaman to King Siddhartha of Ikshvaku dynasty & Queen Trishala of Licchavi dynasty of Kundalpur in today's #Bihar. His siblings were Nandivardhana & Sudarshana. According to Acharanga Sutra, his parents were lay devotees of 23rd Tirthankar Parshvanath. (4)
Jain texts describe Mahavir's 26 births before his birth as a tirthankar. It is interesting to know that he was born as Marichi, son of Bharat Chakravartin in a previous life. Marichi becomes the disciple of his grandfather Tirthankar Adinath, who later starts his own cult. (5)
Mahavir swami married Yashoda at a young age & had a daughter named Priyadarshana, as written in Shwetambar scriptures. However, Digambar literature maintains that he refused the proposal to marry Yashoda. At the age of 30, he abandoned his royal life & took Diksha (monkhood) (6)
Uttarapuran & Harivamśapurāņ mention that Mahavira achieved Kevalagyan under a Sāla tree on the bank of River Rijuvalika near Jrimbhikagrama at age of 43, after 12 years of rigorous penance. This river still exists in #Bihar. A Jal mandir is built at the place of his Nirvan. (7)
A Samavasaran is a divine preaching hall built by celestials after a tirthankar attains Kevalgyan. It is attended by all - Celestial beings, humans, animals. Mahavir swami's Jinvaani (preachings) was in Ardha-Magadhi but it was understood by all in their own language. (8)
Mahavir swami said observance of 5 vows (mahavrat) is necessary for spiritual liberation -
👉🏼 Ahimsa (non-violence)
👉🏼 Satya (truth)
👉🏼 Asteya (non-stealing)
👉🏼 Brahmacharya (chastity)
👉🏼 Aparigraha (non-attachment)
Similarly, he prescribed 12 Anuvrata for Householders. (9)
He also taught the principle of Anekantavada: Syadvada & Nayavada
And the 3 guiding principles of #Jainism called Tri-Ratna (3 jewels) -
▫️Samyak Darshan
▫️Samyak Gyan
▫️Samyak Charitra
Often seen in Jain Iconography as a Tri-layered umbrella above the head of Tirthankar (10)
A Tirthankar is one who has conquered the saṃsāra - cycle of death & rebirth, establishes Dharma - a path for others to follow. He establishes a Chaturvidhi sangh of Ascetics & Laypeople - Shraman, Shramani, Shravak & Shravika.
We come under the sangh of Mahavir swami. (11)
According to Kalpa Sutra, Mahavir swami had 14,000 sadhus, 36,000 sadhvis, 159,000 sravakas and 318,000 sravikas.
Jain texts mention Raja Srenik (Bimbisara) & Raja Kunika (Ajatashatru) of Haryanka dynasty and Raja Chetaka of Videha as his royal followers/disciples. (12)
Mahavira swami's primary disciples who were 11 Brahmins, a traditionally known as Ganadhars. Indrabhuti Gautama was his chief disciple & leader of the male monastic order. Aryika/Mahasati Chandana was the leader of the female monastic order. (13)
Ganadhars are believed to have memorized & to have verbally transmitted Mahavira's teachings after his death. His teachings came to be known as Agamas or Gani-Pidaga, which were compiled by Ganadhar Gautam. Agamas are in 12 parts, the 12th Dristivaad is lost with time. (14)
Did you know? There is a city called Burdwan/Bardhaman in #WestBengal. The origin of this name is ascribed to Vardhaman Swami or Mahavira who spent some time in Astikagrama, according to the Kalpasutra. This place was renamed as Vardhaman in his honour. (15)
Jain Panchang is a Moon calendar based on Vir Nirvan Samvat, an era beginning on 7 October 527 BCE, commemorating the Nirvana of Mahavir swami, This is one of the oldest calender still in use. It is obtained by adding 470 years to the Kartikadi Vikram samvat calender. (16)
Early #Jain & #Buddhist literature uses several names/epithets for Mahavir swami - Nayaputta, Nattaputta, Muni, Samana, Niggantha, Brahman, Bhagavan etc. He is known as Sramana in the Kalpa Sūtra. In early Buddhist suttas, he is referred to as Araha, Arhat, Veyavi. (17)
A great soul like Mahavir swami should be celebrated not just by #Jains, but the whole world. He said every soul is equal & laid utmost emphasis to Karma. Answers to the minutest details of why, where, how...the ultimate truth can be found in his preachings. 🙏🏼 (18)
A #Jain monk from #Gujarat Munishree Ajitchandra Sagar, just 34 years of age will attempt 'Sahastravdhaan' on 1st May 2024 at NSCI Stadium, Worli, Mumbai, #Maharashtra
What is Shahastravdhaan?
Shahastra (1000)+Avdhaan (memory)
#Thread
He will be asked 1,000 questions that he will attempt answering in sequence - from first to last!
The variety of questions will include tricky Maths & Science Q&A, passages from Jain scriptures, Bhagavad Gita, quotes, poems etc. (2)
Apart from this, 15 processes will happen simultaneously around him. Like, he will have to remember the times the bell rang for a specific Avdhaan, touch of cowries to his hand or leg, touching marbles in a basket without seeing it, photo memory etc (3)
All were Brahmins & took monk initiation under Lord Mahavir & followed Jain dharma
#Thread 👇🏼
All 11 were profound scholars of philosophy. All had their own secular beliefs regarding the soul, the divine, heaven, hell, salvation, sin, virtue etc. Hence before taking initiation they solved their doubts with Lord Mahavir & on being satisfied took initiation from him (2)
11 Ganadhars & their Doubts:
1) Indrabhuti: Existence of Soul? 2) Agnibhuti: On Karma? 3) Vayubhuti: The body is Jiva or different from Jiva? 4) Vyakta: Five material elements are real or unreal? 5) Sudharmā: If Jiva will be of the same kind or different in next birth? (3)
'Shree Vardhaman Shakrastav Stotra' is a collection of 273 Adjectives that emerged spontaneously from the heart of Shakrendra (Indra) Maharaja when he comes to know of Tirthankar's birth.
Sharing some interesting Adjectives in this #Thread 👇🏼
This stotra was virtually gifted by Shakrendra to Acharya Siddhasen Divakar Surishwarji in the 5th century CE for benefit of mankind. It was lost in the passage of time & rediscovered by Shri Chinubhai Ratilal Doshi from the Ancient Gyan Bhandar in Kavi #Jain Tirth, #Gujarat
3. The word SHAKRASTAV means 'Shakra' (Shakrendra, ruler of 64 Indras of Heaven)+'Stav' (Stavan/hymns) in praise of Lord. The 273 Adjectives are divided into 11 paragraphs known as ‘Alavas’
Who laid 78000 Gold coins to buy 4 yards of land to cremate the bodies of #Sikh Guru Gobind Singh's 2 sons & his mother in 1704 CE; who were executed & denied last rites as they refused to convert into #Islam
#Thread
Seth Todarmal was born in an Oswal #Jain Shwetambar family in Punjab (exact city vary in diff sources) & his ancestors were wealthy Traders. In 1630CE, Emperor Shah Jahan promoted him to the post of Diwan-cum-Faujdar in Sirhind, Punjab. (A biopic on him was released in 2023). (2)
In 1658, as soon as Aurangzeb got the throne, he replaced all the bureaucrats with Muslims. He dismissed Diwan Todarmal & appointed Wazir Khan. Hence, Todarmalji stayed in his Jahazi Haveli at Sirhind & continued his business. (3)
#Thread on #Saraswati mata - the Goddess of Knowledge
Also known as Shrut devi/Jinvani mata in #Jainism
Oldest idol of Saraswati (132CE) with an inscription was excavated from Jain Stupa @ Kankali Tila, Mathura #UP. Donated by a Jain metal worker. She holds Jinagam & a mala (1)
10th Century idol of #Jain Saraswati Devi with Tirthankar on top from Pallu, Bikaner, #Rajasthan. Currently on display at Ajmer Museum. The iconography shows Kamandal, mala and Jinagam in her hands (2)
#Jain Saraswati dated 1010CE discovered from excavation at Bir Chhabili Tila, Fatehpur Sikri, #UttarPradesh. The idol is in Tribhanga posture with 2 Jina idols sitting on both sides at the top (3)
He was born in 1782, to Seth Amin Chand & Roopa Bai at Bombay. Amin Chand had migrated from Khambat to Bombay in 1758 at the age of 13 where he started jewellery business. There he built a griha jinalay.
#Thread #SundaySpecial
But when he died, the family was left behind in a critical financial condition. His eldest son Nemi Chand started brokerage & paid off father's debts but died young at 31. Within 5 years Motichand developed business to great heights & became a millionaire (2)
His business ventures spread far & wide. He slowly acquired a fleet of 40 ships operating from China to Bahrain. He, thus, broke the monopoly of the British & became a shipping magnate. His reputation spread to Arab countries, to Java-Sumatra, China & Sri Lanka (3)