Lord Mahavir :
The 24th and last Tirthankar of Jainism
Honouring
prominent Religious Teachers
599 – 527 BCE
The Indian sage Vardhaman (also known as “Mahavir” or “
Very Brave” or “Great Hero” ) was the 24th and last Tirthankar ( Literal meaning : “Ford maker” and is a term
given by Jains to a human being who achieves “moksha” – liberation from the
cycle of human birth/rebirth, through
asceticism and who has been elevated to the status of a role model and
“Acharya” – teacher, for those seeking spiritual guidance. ) who was responsible for laying down the
central tenets of Jainism.
He is also referred to variously as “Arugan” or
“Arugandevan” in Tamil, and as “Vir” or “Virprabhu”, “Atvira”, “Gnatputra” in
various other texts and “Nigantha Nataputta” in Pali texts. His other names are Sanmatinayak, Mahativeer,
and Shramana.
He was born to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala in
Kundalagram (District Vaishali, Bihar, India) about 27 miles from Patna (the
capital of modern day Bihar, India) under the rising moon of Chaitra (which
roughly corresponds to 12th April of the Gregorian calendar).
Prosperity is said to have come to his father’s kingdom, during the period just
before his birth. His mother is said to have several dreams before his birth,
foretelling the coming of a great soul. Upon his birth, he was named
“Vardhaman”.
Spiritual
inclinations, period as an ascetic and work as a Tirthankar of Jainism:
From his childhood, Vardhaman was endowed with a virtuous
nature and given to meditation and contemplation. He began to pattern his life
and thoughts on the core beliefs of Jainism and showed little inclination
towards the affairs of the World.
He renounced his
kingdom and his family at the age of 30, and spent the next 12 years in
meditation as an ascetic, even forsaking his worldly possessions, including his
clothes. During this period, he led an extremely austere life contemplating on
various aspects including treating other life forms viz. plants and animals
with equal respect as human beings. His control over all his senses during
penance was exemplary. He suffered a lot of physical pain and torture from
various persons /natural sources. Among them was the bite of a very poisonous
snake Chandakaushik, but he remained calm and peaceful and never developed
hatred towards anyone or anything.
The courage with which he endured all hardships during
his spiritual journey earned him the title “Mahavir” and he achieved “Arihant”
status (Arihant is one who destroys his inner enemies like anger, greed,
passion and ego). Some Jain texts,
however, mention another interesting version on how he got the name “Mahavir”.
It is said that, while Vardhaman was playing with his friends as a boy, an
angel joined them in the guise of a little boy and while playing with the,
suddenly turned into a monster. Vardhaman however overcame the monster, which
is when the Angel appeared in its true form and called him “Mahavir” meaning
“Very Brave”.
At the age of 42, he attained omniscience or “Kevaljnan”
and became a Jina, the 24th Tirthankara of the present era.
Thereafter, he travelled barefoot and without clothes across the length and
breath of India, including in several kingdoms of his time, like Magadh and
Mithila and several Kings became his disciples when he preached his philosophy
of the eternal truth of spiritual freedom to them.
His austere way of life, simplicity and powerful
discourses on the Jain philosophy, convinced several persons from all walks of life,
irrespective of caste or social status, to become his followers. One estimate
mentions that about 4.00 crore persons became his followers during his lifetime
itself.
Jain texts have mentioned Mahavir’s 26 previous births
prior to his birth as a Tirthankara, through which the soul’s journey and
evolution through several reincarnations in the transmigratory cycle,
ultimately achieving its last birth or liberation from the Karmic cycle of
birth and rebirth, (also known as “achieving
Moksha” ) is depicted. Those who have attained Moksha are called “siddhas” (ultimately
realized souls) while those attached to the world through their Karma are
called “samsarin” (having Worldly pursuits).
Mahavir’s Philosophy :
His philosophy focused on 8 cardinal principles of Jain
philosophy:
3 of these Principles are metaphysical (“samyak-darshana” or right faith,
“samyak-gyana” or right knowledge and “Samyak-charitra” or right conduct).
These Principles are called the “triple gems of Jainism”.
5 of these
Principles are ethical ( “Ahimsa” or
non-violence and causing no harm to any living being, “Satya” or Truthfulness,
“Asetya” or non-stealing, “Brahmacharya” or chastity, “Aparigraha” or
non-attachment to people, places and material things). A person using these
five Principles in thought, speech and action is said to have taken the
“Mahavrat” (Great vows) for attaining enlightenment
and ultimate liberation (prescribed for Jain monastics),
while the ‘Anuvrat” (limited vows) are prescribed for the laymen and laywomen .
The primary aim of
these Principles is to uplift the quality of human life, so that the person
practicing these Principles will be free from the bondage of the Karmic cycle,
in the evolutionary process of the soul and attain Moksha (free from the cycle
of Birth and rebirth). Every soul has to follow the path, as explained by the
“jinas” (Jina: One who conquers his inner enemies – and the followers of jinas
are known as Jains) and reiterated by the Tirthankaras to attain complete
liberation or Nirvana.
Mahavir preached that all men and women can renounce the
world in search of moksha or ultimate bliss/happiness.
He categorized
his followers into four groups, (collectively termed as the “Chaturvidh Jain Sangh”):
“Sadhu” (monk) “Sadhvi” (nun), “Shravak” (layman) and
“Shravika” (laywoman) like all the Tirthankars, before him.
The monks have to strictly follow the 8-fold path, while
the laypersons can observe them to the best of their capabilities.
Every person who takes the vows has to realize that these
vows cannot be properly practiced without the acceptance of a philosophy of
non-absolutism.
Therefore, “Anekantavada”
(multiple points of view) is an integral part of Jain philosophy which
inculcates a tolerance to other viewpoints , no matter how conflicting these
should be to the Jain philosophy and ideals.
Also, he emphasized the doctrine of “Syavada” which provides, that, a devotee should explore the real nature of the issue at hand
and to consider the problem in seven different conditional and relative
viewpoints or propositions , which lats the practitioner maintain his
non-violent and detached approach to the issue at hand, after rationalizing the
different perspectives.
Two methods for shedding
the past karmas have been prescribed – one, “Passive Method” (where past karmas are allowed to ripen in due
course of time and experiencing the results of good or bad Karma with equanimity,
and two, “Active Method” where a
practitioner observes internal and external austerities, which accelerates the
journey towards moksha.
Mahavir followed
the main teachings established by his predecessor Tirthankars, but he
reorganized the Jain Philosophy to correspond with his times. To this extent,
he was a reformer.
It is said that Mahatma Gandhi, also, drew heavily on the
concepts of “Anekantavada” and “Syavada”, from his interactions with Jain monks
while practicing “Satyagrah” (non-violent form of protests) against British
excesses and his efforts towards achieving India’s Freedom.
Moksha
Mahavir attained Nirvana at the age of 72 at Pavapuri,
Nalanda (Bihar, India) on the last day of the Jain Calendar on Deepawali. (21
of the 24 Tirthankars are said to have attained Moksha in the “Kayotsarga” (standing meditation
posture) while 3 Tirthankars, including Mahavira attained Nirvana in the “padmasana” (lotus – crossed legs
sitting position) posture.
Celebrating the
birth of Mahavir and remembering the day of his attaining Nirvana:
Mahavir
Jayanti: in which the birth of
Mahavir, the last Tirthankar is celebrated on the thirteenth day of the
fortnight of the waxing moon in the month of Chaitra (corresponding to
end-March /early April.
Diwali :
on new moon day of Kartik, (late October/early November) is remembered as the
day when Mahavira attained Nirvana or deliverance from the bondage of all
karmas.
Oral Tradition
and written texts on Mahavir’s teachings and life:
Mahavir’s teachings were passed down by “oral traditions”
(Agam Sutras) initially by his disciples
and several generations later, recorded for posterity in the “Tadpatris” (written down on palm leaves
bundled together as books). The Swetambar Jains treat these written documents
as authentic teachings of Mahavir, while, the Digambar Jains use them as
reference guides.
Various Jain Texts describe the life of Mahavir. “Kalpasutra” by Acharya Bhadrabahu is one of
them. A Sanskrit biography “Vardhamanacharitra” by Asaga is also there among
various other references.
A few years after Mahavir’s Nirvana, the Jain Sangh
developed several points of dispute on the interpretation of his original
doctrines, and religious practices that developed over a period of time,
nevertheless, the basic tenets of his teachings are accepted by all Jains.
Commemoration of
2600th year of Mahavir’s birth:
In April 2002, the Reserve Bank of India released a five
rupee coin for general circulation celebrating the 2600th year of
Mahavir’s birth in 2001.
The obverse of the coin has the Lion Capital in the centre together
with the words “Satyameva Jayate “ (Truth always Prevails) which together form
the emblem/Coat of Arms of India. The numeral “5” denoting the denomination of
the coin is below the emblem. On the left periphery are the words “Bharat” and
“Rupiye” in Hindi and on the right periphery are the words “India” and “Rupees”
in English.
On the reverse of the coin the Jain Philosophy is
depicted.
The “Swastik”
is the holiest symbol of the Jains. It is normally represented along with three
dots and a crest on top of the dots, with a single dot on top of the crest.
The crest represents the “Sidha Shila” above which the
“infinite Sidhas” (realized souls) which have achieved freedom from the cycle
of reincarnation reside, while the dots below the Sidha Shila represent the
souls which are nearing the “Siddha” status.
The hand with
the wheel on the palm symbolizes the 5 Jain vows, with the word
“Ahimsa” mentioned in the middle of the palm in Devanagri on the coin . A wheel
on the palm represents the “Dharma-chakra” (The path of Righteousness) all of
which , if followed will halt the cycle of birth and rebirth and the person
will achieve “Moksha”.
The palm symbol and the Siddha Shila are encompassed by an 8-sided polygon symbolizing the
structure of the Universe as envisaged by Jain Philosophy, on the coin.
Jains believe that the supreme abode is above the Sidha shila, below which is
the “Dev Lok” (Heaven) where
all “devas” (powerful souls with positive karmic effects reside in sixteen
different levels depending on their levels of positive karmic energies.
In the middle section of the diagram (the narrow section
which is like the waist in the diagram) , all
other living beings reside and below the waist are the seven levels of
“Narak” (Hell) where the
degree of suffering and light changes at various levels, with the intensity of
suffering being the highest in the seventh hell
which has no light.
The entities residing
in Heaven take rebirth once their
positive karmic effects is
exhausted and similarly, the ones residing in Hell take rebirth when their
negative karmic effects are exhausted.
This process continues, till, by following the path of
Dharma, the souls cross the Sidha Shila.
The words “Parasparopagraho Jivanam “ meaning “All life
is bound together by mutual support and interdependence” are mentioned below
the Central design.
The words “Bhagwan Mahavir, 2600 Janm Kalyanak “ are
mentioned in both Hindi and English.
This coin was minted at Noida mint. Notice the “dot”mint
mark below the year of issue 2001.
Further Note on
Jainism/Jain Religion:
Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the World. Jain
theology mentions that, Jainism has existed since eternity without a beginning
or and end. ( While it is true that the Jain philosophy was carried down from
generation to generation through oral traditions initially , it is speculated
by historians that the foundations of the present form of Jainism started sometime between 9th and 6th
century BCE) .
Jain Philosophy preaches a path of non-violence towards
all living beings and focuses on a follower’s conscious effort to uplift
his/her soul towards divine consciousness and ultimate liberation. A soul which
has absolute control over its own inner enemies and achieves the state of Supreme
Being is called a “jina” (a victor or Conqueror). The ultimate level of
attainment for such realized souls is termed “siddha” and the path which the
Jain philosophy lays down for achieving such status is called “shramana dharma”(self-reliance)
or the path of the “Niganthas” (those without attachments or aversions).
Jains do not believe that a “God” is responsible for the creation
of the Universe. They believe that the Universe changes due to interactions
between matter and energy in the course of time and is governed by the laws of
nature which are self regulated. They also believe one must respect all forms
of life including micro-organisms and humans must co-exist without causing any
harm to other life forms.
Jains follow the teachings of 24 “Tirthankars” or
“Ford-builders” where the process of becoming a pure soul is likened to
crossing a fast-flowing river which has already been crossed by the Tirthankara
who is now there to help other souls to achieve their ultimate liberation.
Although Tirthankars are not Gods, and are human beings who are considered to be
very close to achieving enlightenment, their statues in Jain temples are prayed
to, by Jain spiritual seekers aspiring to achieve enlightenment. The idols of
the 24 Tirthankars are the same, because they represent the quality and virtues
of the Tirthankars and not the physical body. At the bottom of each idol is a
unique symbol which is placed to differentiate the Tirthankars.
Lord Mahavir’s idol is recognized by the symbol of the
Lion below it.
In addition to worshipping the icons of jinas, arihants,
Tirthankars, Jains worship the icons of “Yakshas” (heavenly souls of male
denomination) and “Yakshinis” (heavenly souls of female denomination) who look
after the well being of Tirthankars.
There is a belief, that, the 25th Tirthankara will be born at the beginning of
the third era of the next half- cycle of time, in approx. 81,500 years.
“Namokar or Navkar
Mantra” is the fundamental prayer which can be recited at any time of the day
by a Jain , in which the devotee bows in respect to the liberated souls in
human form ( arihants), fully liberated souls free from rebirth (siddhas),
spiritual teachers (Acharyas) and all
monks and nuns.
Jains practice strict vegetarianism, because they believe
in peaceful co-existence with other life forms and even do not eat root
vegetables (onions, potatoes, carrots, radishes, etc.), because it amounts to
destroying a plant before the end of its life cycle.
Today Jainism exists all over the World, with over 5.00
million followers in India.
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Links to other articles on coins issued on Prominent saints and temples of India:
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