Diwali is one of the most popular festivals in india. For Jains it is a very important occasion. It is a festival of glory and achievement of Bhagwan Mahavira who attained nirvana on this day.
A brief history of diwali in jainism:
#Diwali was known as Deepalika- the Festival of Lights. Deepak is a symbol of light of abolishing the darkness of ignorance.
#DhanTeras was known as #Dhanya_Teras in olden days. Before his nirvana,Bhagwan Mahavira started giving his last sermons on this day. Thus the day was known as Dhanya. Now it is called as Dhan as too much importance is attached to wealth.
#KaliChaudas
Bhagwan spoke continuously for 48 hours. His last sermons are recorded in one of our Aagams called the uttaradhyana sutra.
#Diwali
Bhagwan left this world and attained Nirvana at Pavapuri. The light was gone forever and the whole world was enveloped in pitch darkness. Gods dispelled it with bright gems and humans lit earthen lamps. Lamps are lit to symbolize the dispelling of ignorance.
#Padva / #NewYear
Gautam swami, the chief disciple of Bhagwan Mahavira attained keval gyana on this day.
#BhaiDooj
After Bhagwan's nirvana his brother king Nandivardhan was inconsolable due to grief. His sister, Sudershana called him to her house and comforted by giving him religious knowledge.
Thus the traditions found their way in today's world. But let's not forget the real significance of celebrating Diwali. 'Ahimsa paramo dharma' was Bhagwan's teaching which is at the very heart of Jainism.
Why do Jains celebrate next day of Deepavali as a starting of New Year ?
Read the thread.
This tradition goes back to the times of Shree Aadinath. As per existing evidences, this tradition first started in Jains. We Jains, named the Samvatsara since the Nirvana of Shree Aadinath.
As on this day of Shree Aadinath attaining Nirvana, his Samavasarana (the three-layered Dev-made building where all Tirthankars give sermons) was dissolved. The next day is called Samvatsara or starting of an Era of the spiritual kingdom of him after he attained Nirvana.
Why does Jainism believe that Gods or Tirthankaras are indifferent to us and neither punish nor reward us, and don't love us ?
Why are they God then ?
For know the answer, read the below thread.
The concept of God in Jainism is different from most other religions. Jainism does not believe in an all-powerful creator God that punishes or rewards living-beings and loves those who worship Him.
In Jainism, God is one who has ended the cycle of birth and death. Thus, all liberated souls are regarded as God. Tirthankaras are also liberated souls. They are specifically revered because they show us the path to liberation.
Despite being one of the oldest religions of the world, why does Jainism have so few followers ?
Read the entire thread.
Probably because Jainism is not for the masses. Sorry, it might sound rude, but I will try and explain as under:
Jainism is a stream that a person enters only when he has achieved a certain degree of maturity in his thought processes, not earlier.
Jain philosophy digs deep into human psychology and advocates that a person on his way to मोक्ष (मोक्ष) passes through fourteen phase of mental and emotional development (14 गुणस्थानक). At each stage, a person exhibits a psyche, that is unique to that state itself.
According to Jainism, our soul has been transmigrating through the painful cycle of birth and death since time immemorial. In the innumerable lives that we have lived, we have been born in every inch of space of the universe and....
... And have had all type of relations (mother, father, son, daughter, wife, husband etc.) with each and every soul.
‘Sansar Bhavana’ refers to contemplation of this sorrowful transmigration of the soul in the four gatis namely,humans, tiryanch (animals, birds etc.)...
In Jainism, what is "Ekatva Bhavana" (एकत्व भावना) ?
Ekatva Bhavana refers to the feeling of loneliness and helplessness of the soul. Loneliness, in the sense that the soul comes to this world alone and departs alone. Helplessness, in the sense that the soul enjoys the fruits and suffers the consequences of its actions all alone.
There is no friend or enemy of the soul. It is responsible for all its karmas.
In this bhavana, one contemplates on the fact that we, as a soul, are alone in this world. We arrive in this world all alone and depart from it all alone. And even among all our friends and relatives,