LORD MAHAVEERA
Jainism is the oldest religion in India. The
religion preached by Lord Mahaveera is not a new religion; it is the religion
of the jinas who had gone before him and popularized the basic principles of
the greatness of self. Mahaveera was the twenty fourth, i.e., the last
Tirthankar. According to the tradition he attained Nirvan 605 years before the
beginning of the Saka Era.By either mode of calculation the date comes to 527
B.C. Since the lord attained emancipation at the age of 72, his birth must have
been around 599B.C.This makes Mahaveer a slightly elder contemporary of Buddha
who probably lived about 567-487 B.C.
He was born on the 13th day of the bright half of the month
of Chaitra in the year 599 B.C. His father Siddharth , King of the Jňātŗ clan
in Vaisali. His Mother was Trishla, the daughter of Chetaka, a king of the
Chetaka, a king of a Licchavi clan. She had another name Priyakarini.The
Mahaveera was first named Vira but since his birth, as the kingdom began to
attain greater Prosperity, he was called VARDHAMANA.In some texts he is called
Jňātŗaputra. In the Buddhistic literature he is called Nātaputta.He was thus
born with all the intellectual and spiritual gifts which marked him out as a
great religious teacher. He was educated as a prince. He possessed a gifted
personality and a brilliant intellect.
He
perceived that every living being had a soul with the same potentialities of
greatness as his own; his conduct towards every living creature was full of
compassion and love. The material comforts had no attraction for him. Self
restraint was a way of life for him. He was sweet tempered and bore no ill-will
for him.
Mahaveera took the vow of monk (Muni) when he was thirty years old .He
moved to forest where he cast off his cloths and pulled out his hair with his
own hands .He spends most of his time in penance in caves and forests, on hills
and mountain peaks .He attempt KEVALYA JNANA after 12 years. He was the head of
an excellent community of 14,000 monks , 36,000 Nuns(Aaryikas),10,0000 male lay
votaries(Shravakas) and 30,0000 female lay votaries(Shravikas).The four groups
designated as Muni(Sadhu),Aaryika(Sadhvi),Shravak and Shravika constitute the
four fold order(Tirth) of Jainism.
The spiritual power and moral
grandeur of mahaveer’s teaching impressed the masses. He made religion simple
and natural , free from elaborates ritual complexities .His message of
Non-violence ,truth , non-stealing, celibacy, non-possession and Anekant-syadvad
is full of universal compassion . His teachings reflected the popular impulse
towards internal beauty and harmony of the soul.
Dr Anekant Kumar Jain
JIN FOUNDATION
A 93 / 7A , Jain Mandir Colony
Behind Nanda
Hospital
New Delhi-110074,
टिप्पणियाँ