Lord MahaviraLord MahaviraDr.T.V.Rao MDDr.T.V.Rao MD

Who Is MahaviraWho Is Mahavira

MahaviraMahavira ( ( महा�वी�र महा�वी�र lit. lit. Great HeroGreat Hero) (599 ) (599 – 527 BCE) is the name most – 527 BCE) is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian commonly used to refer to the Indian sage sage VardhamanaVardhamana ( (SanskritSanskrit: : वीर्ध�म�न वीर्ध�म�न"increasing") who established what "increasing") who established what are today considered to be the are today considered to be the central central tenetstenets of of JainismJainism. According . According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last the last TirthankaraTirthankara

Beginning of Lord Beginning of Lord MahaviraMahavira

As King Siddhartha's As King Siddhartha's son, he lived as a son, he lived as a prince. However, prince. However, even at that tender even at that tender age he exhibited a age he exhibited a virtuous nature. He virtuous nature. He started engaging in started engaging in meditation and meditation and immersed himself in immersed himself in Self-contemplationSelf-contemplation..

Awakening and Awakening and EnlightenmentEnlightenment

After having left behind After having left behind the pleasures of the pleasures of worldly life, he went worldly life, he went into the state of deep into the state of deep silence for a period of silence for a period of about twelve and half about twelve and half years. During this years. During this period, he learnt to period, he learnt to control his feelings and control his feelings and desires. For quite a desires. For quite a long time, he went long time, he went without food. His without food. His search for truth and search for truth and the real virtues of life the real virtues of life made people call him made people call him Mahavira.Mahavira.

Jainism means Not Jainism means Not HarmingHarming

He preached that truth He preached that truth and clean living were and clean living were the priorities in life, as the priorities in life, as was non-violence. Till was non-violence. Till today, Jains do not today, Jains do not even harm a fly or a even harm a fly or a mosquito. True Jains mosquito. True Jains tie a cloth around their tie a cloth around their nose, so as not to nose, so as not to breathe in or destroy breathe in or destroy living organisms in the living organisms in the atmosphere. atmosphere.

Lord Mahavira:Lord Mahavira: Non-Violent Search For SupremNon-Violent Search For Supreme Truthe Truth

Mahavira, a great Mahavira, a great

prophet and teacher, prophet and teacher, systematised the Jain systematised the Jain doctrines and doctrines and embodied them in a embodied them in a comprehensive comprehensive constitution of the faith. constitution of the faith. He built the edifice of He built the edifice of Jainism by Jainism by renovationrenovation modification and modification and extension. Most of all, extension. Most of all, he infused new life and he infused new life and vitality into vitality into Arhata Arhata tradition. tradition.

Accept all as ONEAccept all as ONE

Mahavira said that Mahavira said that the one who rejects the one who rejects the people and the the people and the world, rejects his world, rejects his own existence; and own existence; and the one who rejects the one who rejects his own existence his own existence rejects the rejects the existence of the existence of the world. world.

Mahavira Advises the Mahavira Advises the HumanityHumanity

Do not reject the existence of the Do not reject the existence of the world and do not reject your existence world and do not reject your existence as well. The most important principle as well. The most important principle of environment is that you are not the of environment is that you are not the only element. When you do something only element. When you do something for yourself you must know your for yourself you must know your action/s will impact the entire world." action/s will impact the entire world." So what can an individual do? How do So what can an individual do? How do his actions affect the rest of the world? his actions affect the rest of the world?

Have CompassionHave Compassion

Live and let live. Live and let live. Love all ‑ Serve Love all ‑ Serve all.all.

Where there is Where there is Love there is Life.Love there is Life. Violence is SuicideViolence is Suicide

Have compassion Have compassion towards all living towards all living beings. Hatred beings. Hatred leads destructionleads destruction

Non violence Highest Non violence Highest ReligionReligion

Silence and Self Silence and Self control is control is non‑violencenon‑violence

Respect for all Respect for all living beings is living beings is non‑violence.non‑violence.

Non‑violence is the Non‑violence is the highest religion.highest religion.

Who is a Worldly ManWho is a Worldly Man

A man is seated on A man is seated on top of a tree in the top of a tree in the midst of a burning midst of a burning forest. He sees all forest. He sees all living beings perish. living beings perish. But he doesn't But he doesn't realize that the realize that the same fate is soon to same fate is soon to overtake him also. overtake him also. That man is foolThat man is fool. .

Why man is UnhappyWhy man is Unhappy

All human beings All human beings are miserable are miserable because of their because of their own own ignorance,ignorance, and they and they themselves can themselves can be happy by be happy by acquiring proper acquiring proper knowledge. knowledge.

Have compassion to Co - Have compassion to Co - HumansHumans

Have compassion Have compassion towards all living towards all living beings. Hatred beings. Hatred leads destruction leads destruction

Just I dislike pain, Just I dislike pain, so all other beings so all other beings dislike pain. dislike pain.

Aim to eliminate Aim to eliminate suffering in the suffering in the worldworld

AttainAttain God HoodGod Hood God is neither the God is neither the

creator nor the creator nor the destructor of the destructor of the universe. He is universe. He is merely a silent merely a silent observer and observer and omniscient.omniscient.

Know thyself, Know thyself, recognize thyself, recognize thyself, be immersed by be immersed by thyself ‑ you will thyself ‑ you will attain attain Godhood.Godhood.

The Jain Theory on The Jain Theory on RelationshipsRelationships

The same man is The same man is regarded regarded simultaneously as simultaneously as son, father, son-in-son, father, son-in-law, father-in-law, law, father-in-law, nephew, uncle, nephew, uncle, brother, cousin, brother, cousin, husband and so on; husband and so on; yet there is no yet there is no contradiction owing contradiction owing to an understood to an understood relationshiprelationship

which is termed in which is termed in Jainism as Jainism as syadvadasyadvada

Mere reading scriptures do not Mere reading scriptures do not HelpHelp

Just as a millions Just as a millions of lamps are of of lamps are of no use to a blind no use to a blind person, study of person, study of numerous numerous scriptures does scriptures does not do any good not do any good to a person to a person without proper without proper conductconduct

What is True What is True RenunciationsRenunciations

True True renunciation renunciation consists in consists in developing developing indifference indifference towards the towards the world, the body world, the body and the and the enjoyment.enjoyment.

What are the EvilsWhat are the Evils Anger causes Anger causes

degradation of soul. degradation of soul. Pride leads to a low Pride leads to a low state of existence. state of existence. Deceit is an Deceit is an impediment impediment (hindrance) to (hindrance) to progress towards progress towards better state of better state of existence. Greed existence. Greed spoils both, the spoils both, the present and the present and the future lives.  future lives. 

Greed destroys Human Greed destroys Human NatureNature

Anger spoils good Anger spoils good relations, pride relations, pride destroys humility, destroys humility, deceit is deceit is detrimental to detrimental to friendship, while friendship, while greed destroys greed destroys everythingeverything.  . 

Who is a Free ManWho is a Free Man

A person who is free A person who is free from delusion (who from delusion (who understands reality), understands reality), has no misery. A has no misery. A person who is without person who is without any longing has no any longing has no delusion. A person delusion. A person without greed has no without greed has no longing. A person who longing. A person who does not have does not have possessions has no possessions has no greed. greed.

Navakär MantraNavakär Mantra The Navakär Mantra The Navakär Mantra

contains the contains the foremost message foremost message of Jainism. The of Jainism. The message is very message is very clear. If we want to clear. If we want to be liberated from be liberated from the cycle of life and the cycle of life and death, we need to death, we need to renounce worldly renounce worldly affairs by becoming affairs by becoming a monk or a nun. a monk or a nun.

Jainism leads to peace and Jainism leads to peace and puritypurity

Three Jewels of Three Jewels of Right Faith, Right Faith, Right Right Knowledge & Knowledge & Right Conduct Right Conduct are the path are the path leading to peace leading to peace and purity  and purity  Jainism Jainism

Lord Mahavira becomes Lord Mahavira becomes ImmortalImmortal

He died in 527 BC He died in 527 BC at Parapuri in Bihar, at Parapuri in Bihar, and left behind a and left behind a legacy of thought legacy of thought and some beautiful and some beautiful temples like the temples like the Dilwara in Mt. Abu, Dilwara in Mt. Abu, Rajasthan and Rajasthan and Shravanbelagola Shravanbelagola in Karnataka.in Karnataka.    

Attains NirvanaAttains Nirvana Around Around 500 BC500 BC, Lord , Lord

MahaviraMahavira, the last of , the last of the 24 the 24 TirthankaraTirthankaras s breathed his last here. breathed his last here. This is the place This is the place where Lord Mahavira where Lord Mahavira achieved achieved MokshaMoksha or or NirvanaNirvana (Salvation (Salvation from the endless cycle from the endless cycle of life and death). He of life and death). He was cremated at was cremated at Pawapuri. Pawapuri.

Jainism influences Indian Jainism influences Indian CultureCulture

Although ancient Jain Although ancient Jain scientific thought is scientific thought is not so well known, it not so well known, it is a rich source of is a rich source of Indian scientific Indian scientific heritage. The grand heritage. The grand Jain spiritual Jain spiritual tradition and its tradition and its masters broadly masters broadly influenced Indian influenced Indian thought and thought and rationality in three rationality in three key areas: key areas:

  

Mark Twain Praises Indian Mark Twain Praises Indian TraditionsTraditions

India is the cradle of India is the cradle of the human race, the the human race, the birthplace of human birthplace of human speech, the mother of speech, the mother of history, grandmother of history, grandmother of legend, and great legend, and great grand mother of grand mother of tradition. Our most tradition. Our most valuable and most valuable and most instructive materials in instructive materials in the the history of man history of man are treasured up in are treasured up in India only." India only."

Worshipping at Worshipping at ShravanbelagolaShravanbelagola

Mahavir Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti CelebrationCelebration

Mahavir Jayanti has a lot of religious Mahavir Jayanti has a lot of religious significance for people belonging to the significance for people belonging to the Jain religion. It is observed to celebrate Jain religion. It is observed to celebrate the birthday of the great Lord Mahavira, the birthday of the great Lord Mahavira, who According to the Gregorian who According to the Gregorian calendar, the Mahavir Jayanti festival calendar, the Mahavir Jayanti festival falls during the period between March falls during the period between March and April. As a part of Mahavir Jayanthi and April. As a part of Mahavir Jayanthi celebrations, the Jain temples are celebrations, the Jain temples are beautifully adorned with flags. beautifully adorned with flags.

Mahatma GandhiMahatma Gandhi on on Lord Lord MahavirMahavir

I say with conviction I say with conviction that the doctrine for that the doctrine for which the name of Lord which the name of Lord Mahavir is glorified Mahavir is glorified nowadays is the nowadays is the doctrine of Ahimsa. If doctrine of Ahimsa. If anyone has practiced anyone has practiced to the fullest extent to the fullest extent and has propagated and has propagated most the most the doctrine of doctrine of Ahimsa, it was Ahimsa, it was Lord Lord MahaviraMahavira."."

Dr. Rabindranath Tagore Dr. Rabindranath Tagore on Mahaviraon Mahavira

MahaviraMahavira proclaimed proclaimed in India that religion is in India that religion is a reality and not a a reality and not a mere social mere social convention. It is really convention. It is really true that salvation can true that salvation can not be had by merely not be had by merely observing external observing external ceremonies. Religion ceremonies. Religion cannot make any cannot make any difference between difference between man and man."man and man."

Lokamanya Bala Gangadhar Lokamanya Bala Gangadhar TilakTilak on Mahavira on Mahavira

We learn from We learn from scriptures (Sashtras) scriptures (Sashtras) and commentaries and commentaries that that JainismJainism is is existing from existing from beginning less time. beginning less time. This fact is This fact is indisputable and free indisputable and free from difference of from difference of opinion. There is opinion. There is much historical much historical evidence on this evidence on this

Dr. S. RadhakrishnanDr. S. Radhakrishnan on Lord on Lord MahavirMahavir

There is nothing There is nothing wonderful in my wonderful in my saying that saying that Jainism was in Jainism was in existence long existence long before the before the VedasVedas were were composed."composed."

Mahavira laid down five Mahavira laid down five ways to get rid of wheel of ways to get rid of wheel of

lifelife: : Do not destroy life Do not destroy life

Speak the truthSpeak the truthBe celibate Be celibate Own nothingOwn nothing Accept nothing that is not Accept nothing that is not freely givenfreely given

Mahavira preached Mahavira preached SalvationSalvation

He preached atheism or the absence of god. He preached atheism or the absence of god. Jainism also believes that one can achieve Jainism also believes that one can achieve salvation (freedom from wheel of life i.e. salvation (freedom from wheel of life i.e. rebirth). Jains use the word Karma to mean rebirth). Jains use the word Karma to mean a substance that binds the soul to physical a substance that binds the soul to physical world. By causing sins you keep world. By causing sins you keep accumulating Karma whereas meditation accumulating Karma whereas meditation and fasting burns the Karma. and fasting burns the Karma. One can get One can get freedom from rebirth (Salvation) only freedom from rebirth (Salvation) only after burning the Karma accumulated after burning the Karma accumulated in past lives. in past lives.

Lord Mahavir attains Pure Lord Mahavir attains Pure BlissBliss

At the age of 72 (527 B.C.), At the age of 72 (527 B.C.), Lord Mahavir died and his Lord Mahavir died and his

purified soul left the body and purified soul left the body and achieved achieved complete complete

liberationliberation. He became a . He became a Siddha, a pure consciousness, Siddha, a pure consciousness, a liberated soul, living for ever a liberated soul, living for ever in a state of in a state of complete blisscomplete bliss..

Lord Mahavira’s Lord Mahavira’s Teachings inspire theTeachings inspire the

Humanity for Humanity for SalvationSalvation. .

Dr.T.V.Rao MDDr.T.V.Rao MD

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