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| Mahavir Jayanti |
The main Jain festival of the year is Mahavira Jayanti, the birth anniversary
of Mahavira. According to the Digambar school of Jainism, Lord Mahavira was
born in the year 615 BC, but the Swetambaras believe that He was born in 599
BC. Both sects however agree that he was the son of Siddhartha and Trisala.
Legend has it, that He was conceived by Devananda, wife of a Brahmin named
Rishabhdeva. The gods, ingeniously, transferred the embryo to the womb of
Trisala. It is said that the expectant mother had sixteen auspicious dreams
before the child was born (only 14 according to the Swetambaras). Astrologers
intepreting these dreams, stated that the child would be either an emperor or a
Teerthankar.
This religious event is largely observed by the Jains, by visiting sacred sites
and worshipping the Teerthankars. The event holds special significance in
Gujarat and Rajasthan, due to the ancient shrines at Girnar and Palitana in
Gujarat. Mahavira Jayanti is also celebrated at Parasnath temple in Calcutta
and at Pawapuri in Bihar. |
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