Mahavir Jayanti 2024: Date, Holiday, History, Tithi, History

Mahavir Jayanti 2024 date is April 21, 2024. Mahavir, who was the 24^th Tirthankara of Jainism, is entitled as the reformer of the Jain monastic community. Born as a prince in royal Jain family in Bihar, he left his home at the age of 30 years in the search of spiritual awakening and salvation.

Devotees believe that Mahavira was born in 599 BCE on the thirteenth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra. According to Gregorian calendar, this day normally falls in the month of March or April.

Mahavir Jayanti 2024 Overview

Mahavir Swami Jayanti 2024 Date

The birth anniversary of Swami Mahavir is calculated as per the Vira Nirvana Samvat calendar and it falls on the thirteenth day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Chaitra.

According to this, Mahavir Swami Jayanti 2024 will be observed on Sunday, 21st of April, 2024. Mahavira Jayanti is a gazetted holiday and majority of schools, businesses and offices remain closed on this day.

History of Mahavir Vardhaman

Mahavira was born in royal Kshatriya family of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala in Kundagrama (a place believed to be near Vaishali, present-day Bihar). His early life was spent as a prince but at the age of 30 years, he abandoned the royal life and left in search of spiritual awakening.

As per the Jain scriptures, before being born as Mahavira, Vardhaman had underwent 26 rebirths in the form of a lion, a deva (God), etc. When born in his Mahavira life, he taught his disciples about the cycle of life and provided spirituality as a means of salvation. At the age of 43, Mahavira was able to attain omniscience on the bank of the River Rijubalika under a Sāla tree.

Swami Mahavira achieved nirvana (death) in the town of Pawapuri (currently in Bihar) on the day of Hindu festival Diwali. On the night when Mahavira attained nirvana, it is believed that his chief discipline attained omniscience. Jain texts describe the death of Mahavira in the form of his disappearance leaving behind only his nails and hair. According to the texts, at the age of 72 Mahavira disappeared at the end of his sixty-day long preaching and the only thing that was left behind was his nails and hair which was later cremated by his disciples.

Check: Hanuman Jayanti date

Teachings of Mahavir Vardhaman

Teachings of Swami Mahavira was compiled in 12 scriptures but the most part of it got lost around 300 BCE when a famine hit the Magadha kingdom. Most of Mahavira’s teaching that exists are incomplete and a bit different version created by Svetambara and Digambara Jain.

Mahavira believed that souls existed. According to him, existence has no beginning or end and the cycle of birth and death goes on and on. Each person will be born in the form of human, animals, element or any other form depending on the deeds he or she does in the present life.

It is also believed that Mahavira himself took birth in 27 lives before he became Mahavira. In order to liberate one’s soul from the cycle of birth and death, one must practice spiritualism.

There are five vows or vratas given by Mahavira Swami that must be observed by every householder as well as ascetics in order to achieve spiritual peace. These are Ahimsa (non-violence or non-injury), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (chastity) and Aparigraha (non-attachment). He also introduced the concept of Anekantavada (many-sided reality): syadvada and nayavada.

How to celebrate Mahavir Jayanti 2024?

Mahavir Swami Jayanti is celebrated with great enthusiasm among his followers. The festival is celebrated in the name of Mahavir Janma Kalyanak and on this day five auspicious events of Mahavira’s life are re-enacted. Jains in large numbers visit temples and offer prayers to Mahavira and recite his preaches and teachings.

Procession is also carried out by the devotees in which idol of Mahavira is placed in a carriage that leaves the temple and after providing sight to his followers, the procession is brought back to the temple. People also do charity work, like feeding the poor, offering donations to organizations that work for the welfare of mankind, etc on the day of Mahavira Jayanti.

Other than Mahavira Jayanti, another major festival of Jain include Diwali. This is the day on which Mahavira achieved nirwana and falls on the same day as the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali. This day also marks the beginning of a new year for Jain community.

Frequently Asked Questions