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| {{short description|Day celebrating the birth of Mahavira, 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Mahavira Janma Kalyanaka]] |
| {{use Indian English|date=February 2016}} | | |
| {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} | | {{Redirect category shell| |
| {{Infobox holiday
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| |holiday_name = Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
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| |official_name = Mahavir Jayanti
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| |image = File:Vardhaman Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg
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| |caption = Vardhaman Mahavir image at Keezhakuyilkudi, Madurai, Tamilnadu, India.
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| |nickname = Translation: Birth Anniversary of Lord Mahavir; Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
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| |observedby = [[Jain]]s
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| |date = ''Chaitra Sud Triyodashi'' ([[Vira Nirvana Samvat]])
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| |observances = Prayers, [[Jainism#Worship and rituals|religious rituals]]
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| |celebrations = Going to the [[Jain Temple]]
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| |longtype = Religious, [[India]] (National holiday)
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| |significance = Birth Anniversary of [[Mahavir]] Swami
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| |date2020 = 6 April (Monday)<ref>https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/mahavir-jayanti</ref>
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| |date2021 = 25 April (Sunday)<ref>https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/mahavir-jayanti</ref>
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| |frequency=Annual
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| }} | | }} |
| {{Jainism}}
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| '''''Mahavir Janma Kalyanak''''' is one of the most important religious festivals in [[Jainism]]. It celebrates the birth of [[Mahavira|Mahavir]], the twenty-fourth and last ''[[Tirthankara]]'' of present ''[[Avasarpiṇī]]''.{{efn|descending half of the worldly time cycle as per [[Jain cosmology]] which is actually current now}} On the [[Gregorian calendar]], the holiday occurs either in March or April.
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| ==Birth==
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| According to [[Jain literature|Jain texts]], Mahavir was born on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the moon in the month of ''[[Chaitra]]'' in the year 599 BCE (Chaitra Sud 13).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KpBuAAAAMAAJ|title=Gazetteers: Junagadh|last1=(India)|first1=Gujarat|year=1975|p=13}}</ref><ref>Kristi L. Wiley: ''Historical Dictionary of Jainism'', Lanham 2004, p. 134.</ref> Most modern historians consider Kundagram (which is today's Kundalpur in Champaran district of Bihar) as his birthplace.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2003-10-14/patna/27173208_1_kundalpur-lord-Mahaveera-basokund|work=[[The Times of India]]|title=Row over Mahaveer’s birthplace}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Mahavir was born in a democratic kingdom (Ganarajya), Vajji, where the king was chosen by votes. [[Vaishali district|Vaishali]] was its capital.{{sfn|Jalaj|2011|p=4}}
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| Mahavir was named 'Vardhaman', meaning "One who grows", because of the increased prosperity in the kingdom at the time of his birth.{{sfn|Kailash Chand Jain|1991|p=32}} In Vasokund, Mahavir is revered by the villagers. A place called ''Ahalya bhumi'' has not been ploughed for hundreds of years by the family that owns it, as it is considered to be the birthplace of Mahavir.{{sfn|Jalaj|2011|p=4}}
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| ===Legend===
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| Mahavirswami was born into [[Ikshvaku dynasty]] as the son of King [[Siddhartha of Kundagrama]] and Queen [[Trishala]]. During her pregnancy, Trishala was believed to have had a number of [[auspicious dreams]], all signifying the coming of a great soul. [[Digambara]] sect of Jainism holds that the mother saw sixteen dreams which were interpreted by the King Siddhartha.{{sfn|Pannalal Jain|2015|p=460}} According to the [[Svetambara]] sect, the total number of auspicious dreams is fourteen. It is said that when Queen Trishala gave birth to Mahavir, [[Indra]], the head of heavenly beings (''[[Deva (Jainism)|devas]]'') performed a ritual called ''abhisheka on Sumeru Parvat'', this being the second of five auspicious events (''[[Panch Kalyanaka]]s''), said to occur in the life of all ''[[Tirthankara]]s''.<ref>{{citation|last=Pramansagar|first=Muni|title=Jain tattvavidya|year=2008|publisher=Bhartiya Gyanpeeth|location=India|isbn=978-81-263-1480-5|p=30}}</ref> In the book of Jainism "Aao Jain Dharm Ko Jane", it is written that Mahavir Jain Ji in his previous birth as Marichi had started 363 hypocritical practices which are evolved into different religions practiced today worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-25|title=Mahavir Jayanti 2021 Special: Date, True Story, Fasting, Rebirth|url=https://news.jagatgururampalji.org/mahavir-jayanti-date-story/|access-date=2021-04-25|website=S A NEWS|language=en-US}}</ref>
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| ==Celebrations==
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| [[File:Sixteen Symbolic Dreams.jpg|thumb|left|Sixteen auspicious dreams seen by the mother of all ''Tirthankara'']]
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| [[File:Thirakoil-mahaaveerar.JPG|Ancient image of Lord Mahavir at [[Thirakoil]]|thumb|250px|right]]
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| The idol of Lord Mahavir is carried out on a chariot, in a procession called ''[[Ratha Yatra|rath yatra]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/469429/piety-marks-mahaveer-jayanthi.html|title=Piety marks Mahaveer Jayanthi|work=Deccan Herald}}</ref> On the way stavans (religious rhymes) are recited.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/both-sects-of-jain-community-take-out-attractive-joint-procession/|title=Both sects of Jain community take out attractive joint procession|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406193847/http://www.freepressjournal.in/both-sects-of-jain-community-take-out-attractive-joint-procession/|archive-date=6 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Statues of Mahavir are given a ceremonial anointment called the [[Abhisheka#Abhisheka as a ritual|''abhisheka'']]. During the day, most members of the [[Jain community]] engage in some sort of charitable act, prayers, pujas, and [[vrata]]s. Many devotees visit temples dedicated to Mahavir to meditate and offer prayers.<ref>{{citation |title=Mahaveer Jayanti 2015: The importance of a Satvik meal |url=http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/mahavir-jayanti-2015-the-importance-of-a-satvik-meal-751655 |work=[[NDTV]] |date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404075153/http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/mahavir-jayanti-2015-the-importance-of-a-satvik-meal-751655 |archive-date=4 April 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Lectures by monks and nuns are held in temples to preach the path of virtue as defined by [[Jainism]]. Donations are collected in order to promote charitable missions like saving cows from slaughter or helping to feed poor people. Ancient Jain temples across India typically see an extremely high volume of practitioners come to pay their respects and join in the celebrations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/culture/story/who-is-mahavir-why-is-mahavir-jayanti-celebrated-1200290-2018-03-29|title=How and Why Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated|website=India Today}}</ref>
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| Ahimsa runs and rallies preaching Lord Mahavir's message of [[Ahimsa in Jainism|Ahiṃsā]] (non-violence) are taken out on this day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merinews.com/article/jain-youth-to-hold-vegan-promotion-rally-on-mahavir-jayanti-in-pink-city-jaipur/15905383.shtml|title=Jain youth to hold vegan promotion rally on Mahaveer Jayanti in pink city Jaipur|work=merinews.com |date=28 March 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-jains-gear-up-for-mahavir-jayanti-tomorrow-2073618|title=Jains gear up for Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak tomorrow|date=1 April 2015|work=dnaindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/over-900-run-for-spreading-bhagwan-mahaveers-message/article7047517.ece|title=Over 900 run for spreading Bhagwan Mahaveer’s message|author=Staff Reporter|work=The Hindu |date=30 March 2015 }}</ref>
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| == References ==
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| {{reflist}}
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| ==Notes==
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| {{notelist}}
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| ==Sources==
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| * {{citation |last=Jain |first=Kailash Chand |author-link=Kailash Chand Jain |title=Lord Mahāvīra and His Times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-TxcO9dfrcC |date=1991 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-0805-8 |ref={{sfnref|Kailash Chand Jain|1991}} }}
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| * {{citation|last=Jain |first=Pannalal |title= Uttarapurāṇa of Āchārya Guṇabhadra |date=2015 |publisher= [[Bhartiya Jnanpith]] |author-link=Pannalal Jain |isbn=978-81-263-1738-7 |ref={{sfnref|Pannalal Jain|2015}} }}
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| * {{citation |last1=Jalaj |first1=Dr. Jaykumar |title=The Basic Thought of Bhagavan Mahavir |year=2011 |publisher=[[Hindi Granth Karyalay]] |location=Mumbai |isbn=978-81-88769-41-4 }}
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| ==External links==
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| *[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/article/antiquity.htm History of Jainism]
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| *[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/quote/quote1.htm Lord Mahavira Sayings]
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| *[http://www.theholidayspot.com/mahavirjayanti/mahavir_jayanti_the_festival.htm The Significance of Mahavir Janma Kalyanak]
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| == See also ==
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| {{refbegin|2}}
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| *[[Diwali (Jainism)]]
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| *[[Jain rituals]]
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| *[[Jain festivals]]
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| *[[Kshamavani]]
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| *[[God in Jainism]]
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| *[[Parshvanatha]]
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| *[[Digambara]]
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| *[[Timeline of Jainism]]
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| {{refend}}
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| {{Jainism topics}}
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| {{Authority control}}
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| [[Category:March observances]]
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| [[Category:April observances]]
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| [[Category:Jain festivals]]
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