Jamshedpur, April 8: Mahavir Jayanti was celebrated with much fanfare in the city on Saturday.
Celebrations started with a prabhat pheri at about 5:30 am. A yatra was also taken out from the Jain Mandir. Small children of Jain school and women dressed up in saffron colour also participated in the procession. People performed the aarti of Lord Mahavira and offered prayers during the procession. After reaching the Jain Mandir, a special puja was performed.
Mahavir Jayanti is an auspicious occasion for the Jain community. Followers visit the temples and offer ceremonial bath, known as ‘abhishek’, to Mahavira’s idol. The temples are lavishly decorated with flags to mark the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira.
Majestic chariot processions are also carried out with the images followed by millions of devotees while chanting prayers.
Traditional dishes are prepared on this particular day and alms are offered to the poor. On the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti, sermons are also held in shrines or temples to preach the philosophy of spiritual freedom and virtue.
Important chapters from the life of Mahavira are read out to the devotees that also contain biographies of Jain Tirthankars. Devotees and followers of Jainism send Mahavir Jayanti messages to relive the great teachings and life of Lord Mahavira. Amazing Mahavir Jayanti greetings, e-cards and Mahavir Jayanti SMS are shared with friends and
family to celebrate the holy occasion.
Mahavira was the last Tirthanka and founder of Jainism in India. He was born on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chaitra to King Siddartha and Queen Trisala in Vaishali (Bihar), a few miles from present Patna city. His parents named him Vardhaman.
According to Swetambars, Vardhaman’s expecting mother had 14 dreams. When astrologers interpreted these dreams, they predicted that the child would become either an emperor or Tirthankar, a person who achieves spiritual enlightenment.
The prophecies of the astrologers came true and later he became the 24th Tirthankar.
