|
click
for Other
Tourist
Place
|
Mahavir Jayanthi
The Jain community celebrates
the birth anniversary of the 24th and the last Tirthankara, Vardhman Mahavir,
the founder of Jainism. On Mahavir Jayanthi, Jain temples are decorated
with flags. In the morning the idol of Mahavira is given a ceremonial bath
called the 'abhishek'. It is then placed in a cradle and carried in a procession
around the neighbourhood. The devotees make offerings of milk, rice, fruit,
incense, lamps and water to the Tirthankar. Pilgrims from all parts of
the country visit the ancient Jain Temples at Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat
on this day.
The birth anniversary of
the 24th and the last Tirthankara of the Jains, Vardhman Mahavir, the founder
of Jainism, is celebrated by the Jain community in March. Born a
prince in 599 BC, Mahavir renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and undertook
austere penance until he achieved realisation.
He 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 Jains are divided into many sects of
whom the main ones are Digambaras and Shvetambaras with the latter again
divided into Deravasis and Sthanakvasis..
|
On Mahavir Jayanthi, Jain
temples are decorated with flags. In the morning the idol of Mahavira is
given a ceremonial bath called the 'abhishek'. It is then placed in a cradle
and carried in a procession around the neighbourhood. The devotees will
make offerings of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to the tirthankar.
Some sections of the community even participate in a grand procession.
Lectures are held to preach the path of virtue. People meditate and offer
prayers. Donations are collected to save the cows from slaughter.
Pilgrims from all parts of the country visit the ancient Jain Temples at
Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat on this day.
According to one, during
the Samudra Manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. This terrified
the gods and demons as the poison was capable of destroying the entire
world, and they ran to Shiva for help. To protect the world from its evil
effects, Shiva drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead
of swallowing it. Because of it, his throat turned blue, and he was given
the name Nilkantha, the blue-throated one. Shivratri is the celebration
of this event by which Shiva saved the world |
|
|
