Happy Mahavir Jayanti 2014

Mahavir Jayanti, also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is the most auspicious and celebrated event in Jainism. Mahavir Jayanti is the birth date of Lord Mahavir and falls under April 14th in 2014 (based on the Gregorian calendar), but can shift days every year due to the difference in the Hindu calendar system and the western Gregorian calendar. Lord Mahavira’s birth year was 599 BCE (before Christ existed).

On Mahavir Jayanti, aside from visiting local Jain temples, many Jains wash and bathe moorthies (idols) of Lord Mahavir during a religious ceremony known as Abhisheka. On Lord Mahavira’s birthday, many devotees use this day as a reminder of good deeds and therefore engage in chartible donations or tasks, such as saving cows from slaughterhouses or saving other living beings.

Many Hindus, especially in Gujarat also celebrate Mahavir Jayanti and visit Jain temples to give donations and give their respects.

Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world, and originated in ancient India via the Hindu Dharma umbrella.There are about 5 million practicing Jains worldwide, most of who live in India peacefully with Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs and are known most for their extreme beliefs in non-violence and animal rights (rights for all living things).

The Chakra team wishes all Jains and followers of Mahavir Jayanti to have an auspicious day. Below is a beautiful bhajan (religious song) of Mahavir Chalisa.

Happy Mahavir Jayanti

(CHAKRA) Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is the specialist religious holiday in Jainism for Jains located all around the world.. It is the birth celebration of Lord Mahavira, the last Tirthankara. On the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April. This year in 2012, it falls around April 5th. Mahavir Jayanti’s biggest celebrations take place in India. Many members of the Hindu community also celebrate Mahavir Jayanti.

Lord Mahavira was born on the 14th day of the rising moon of Chaitra. His precise age remains a matter of dispute as followers in the Jainism community have not beeb able to reach an agreement as to the year Mahavir was born. The Digambar school of Jainism believes that Lord Mahavira was born in 615 BC while Svetambara Jains traditionally believe that he was born in 599 BC.

Lord Mahavir spread the message of salvation to the world and had many followers. Mahavir preached non-violence, prohibited any kind of killing and taught his followers to seek salvation through penance and abstinence. They are also advised to donate money, clothes and grain to the poor.

The Chakra team wishes everyone a happy Mahavir Jayanti. May Lord Mahavira bless us all.

Mahavira

(CHAKRA) Mahavira is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian holy man Vardham?na who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Aruka or Arukadevan. He is also known in texts as Vira or Viraprabhu, Sanmati, Ativira,and Gnatputra. In the Buddhist Pali Canon, he is referred to as Nigantha Nitaputta.