Miteshsoni at 05:03, 31 March 2026

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{{short description|Day celebrating the birth of Mahavira, 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox holiday
| holiday_name = Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
| official_name = Mahavir Janma Kalyanak
| image = File:Vardhaman Keezhakuyilkudi.jpg
| caption = Vardhaman Mahavira image at Keelakuyilkudi, [[Madurai]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| nickname =
| observedby = [[Jain]]s
| date = ''Chaitra Shudda Triyodashi (teras)'' ([[Vira Nirvana Samvat]])
| observances = Prayers, [[Jainism#Worship and rituals|religious rituals]]
| celebrations = Going to the [[Jain Temple, offering prayers, holding processions with Mahaveer Prabhu’s idol and celebrate with songs and dance on religious tunes]]
| longtype = Religious, [[India]] (national holiday)
| significance = Birth Anniversary of [[Mahavira]]
| date2020 = 6 April (Monday)
| date2025 = 10 April <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/mahavir-jayanti|title = Mahavir Jayanti in India}}</ref>
| date2026 = 31 March <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://holidaytoday.in/en/india/holidays/mahavir-jayanti|title = Mahavir Jayanti 2026}}</ref>
| frequency = Annual
| type = [[Jainism]]
}}
{{Jainism}}

'''Mahavira Janma Kalyanaka''' is one of the most important religious festivals in [[Jainism]]. It celebrates the birth of [[Mahavira]], the twenty-fourth and last [[Tirthankara|Tīrthaṅkara]] (supreme preacher) of present [[Avasarpiṇī]].{{efn|descending half of the worldly time cycle as per [[Jain cosmology]] which is actually current now}} On the [[Gregorian calendar]], the festivity occurs either in March or April.

==Birth==
[[File:Bhagwan Mahaveer.jpg|''[[Murti]]'' of Mahavira at his birthplace, Kshatriyakund ([[Śvetāmbara|Shvetambara]] tradition), in [[Bihar]]|thumb|250px|right]]
According to [[Jain literature|Jain texts]], Mahavira was born on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the moon in the month of ''[[Chaitra]]'' in the year 599 BC (Chaitra Sud 13).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KpBuAAAAMAAJ|title=Gazetteers: Junagadh|last1=(India)|first1=Gujarat|year=1975|page=13}}</ref><ref>Kristi L. Wiley: ''Historical Dictionary of Jainism'', Lanham 2004, p. 134.</ref> According to Shvetambara tradition, he was born in Kshatriyakund of Bihar. Some modern historians consider Kundagram (which is today's Kundalpur in Nalanda District of Bihar) as his birthplace. He was born in a democratic kingdom (Ganarajya), Vajji, where the king was chosen by votes. [[Vaishali district|Vaishali]] was its capital.{{sfn|Jalaj|2011|p=4}} He was named Vardhamana, meaning "One who grows", because of the increased prosperity in the kingdom at the time of his birth.{{sfn|Kailash Chand Jain|1991|p=32}} In Vasokund, Mahavira is revered by the villagers. A place called ''Ahalya bhumi'' has not been ploughed for hundreds of years by the family that owns it, as it is considered to be the birthplace of Mahavira.{{sfn|Jalaj|2011|p=4}}

===Legend===
Mahavira was born into [[Nāya]] clan as the son of King [[Siddhartha of Kundagrama]] and Queen [[Trishala]]. During her pregnancy, Trishala was believed to have 14 [[auspicious dreams]], all signifying the coming of a great soul. Shwetamber Sect of Jainism believes that the mother saw 14 and [[Digambara]] sect believes mother saw sixteen dreams which were interpreted by the King Siddhartha.{{sfn|Pannalal Jain|2015|p=460}} It is said that when Queen Trishala gave birth to Mahavira, [[Indra]], the head of heavenly beings (''[[Deva (Jainism)|devas]]'') performed a ritual called ''abhisheka on Sumeru Parvat'', this being the second of five auspicious events (''[[Panch Kalyanaka]]s''), said to occur in the life of all ''[[Tirthankara|Tirthankaras]]''.<ref>{{citation|last=Pramansagar|first=Muni|title=Jain tattvavidya|year=2008|publisher=Bhartiya Gyanpeeth|location=India|isbn=978-81-263-1480-5|page=30}}</ref>

==Celebrations==
[[File:14 dreams.jpg|thumb|Auspicious 14 dreams seen by a tirthankara's mother during pregnancy as an ornamentation on cover of 19th-century manuscript]]
[[File:Thirakoil-mahaaveerar.JPG|Ancient image of Mahavira at [[Thirakoil]]|thumb|250px|right]]
The idol of Mahavira is carried out on a chariot, in a procession called ''[[Ratha Yatra|rath yatra]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/469429/piety-marks-mahaveer-jayanthi.html|title=Piety marks Mahaveer Jayanthi|work=Deccan Herald|date=3 April 2015}}</ref> On the way stavans (religious rhymes) are recited.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/both-sects-of-jain-community-take-out-attractive-joint-procession/|title=Both sects of Jain community take out attractive joint procession|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406193847/http://www.freepressjournal.in/both-sects-of-jain-community-take-out-attractive-joint-procession/|archive-date=6 April 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Statues of Mahavira are given a ceremonial anointment called the [[Abhisheka#Abhisheka as a ritual|''abhisheka'']]. During the day, most members of the [[Jain community]] engage in some sort of charitable act, prayers, pujas, and [[Vrata|vratas]]. Many devotees visit temples dedicated to Mahavira to meditate and offer prayers.<ref>{{citation |title=Mahaveer Jayanti 2015: The importance of a Satvik meal |url=http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/mahavir-jayanti-2015-the-importance-of-a-satvik-meal-751655 |work=[[NDTV]] |date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404075153/http://food.ndtv.com/food-drinks/mahavir-jayanti-2015-the-importance-of-a-satvik-meal-751655 |archive-date=4 April 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Lectures by monks and nuns are held in temples to preach the path of virtue as defined by [[Jainism]]. Donations are collected in order to promote charitable missions like saving cows from slaughter or helping to feed poor people. Ancient Jain temples across India typically see an extremely high volume of practitioners come to pay their respects and join in the celebrations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/lifestyle/culture/story/who-is-mahavir-why-is-mahavir-jayanti-celebrated-1200290-2018-03-29|title=How and Why Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated|website=India Today}}</ref> Ahimsa runs and rallies preaching Mahavira's message of [[Ahimsa in Jainism|Ahiṃsā]] (non-violence) are taken out on this day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.merinews.com/article/jain-youth-to-hold-vegan-promotion-rally-on-mahavir-jayanti-in-pink-city-jaipur/15905383.shtml|title=Jain youth to hold vegan promotion rally on Mahaveer Jayanti in pink city Jaipur|work=merinews.com |date=28 March 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-jains-gear-up-for-mahavir-jayanti-tomorrow-2073618|title=Jains gear up for Mahaveer Janma Kalyanak tomorrow|date=1 April 2015|work=dnaindia.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/over-900-run-for-spreading-bhagwan-mahaveers-message/article7047517.ece|title=Over 900 run for spreading Bhagwan Mahaveer's message|author=Staff Reporter|work=The Hindu |date=30 March 2015 }}</ref>{{Portal|Religion|Holidays}}

== See also ==
*[[Diwali (Jainism)]]
*[[Jain rituals]]
*[[Jain festivals]]
*[[Kshamavani]]
*[[God in Jainism]]
*[[Parshvanatha]]
*[[Digambara]]
*[[Timeline of Jainism]]
* [[Shruta Panchami]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Sources==
* {{citation |last=Jain |first=Kailash Chand |author-link=Kailash Chand Jain |title=Lord Mahāvīra and His Times |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8-TxcO9dfrcC |date=1991 |publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]] |isbn=978-81-208-0805-8 |ref={{sfnref|Kailash Chand Jain|1991}} }}
* {{citation|last=Jain |first=Pannalal |title= Uttarapurāṇa of Āchārya Guṇabhadra |date=2015 |publisher= [[Bhartiya Jnanpith]] |author-link=Pannalal Jain |isbn=978-81-263-1738-7 |ref={{sfnref|Pannalal Jain|2015}} }}
* {{citation |last1=Jalaj |first1=Dr. Jaykumar |title=The Basic Thought of Bhagavan Mahavir |year=2011 |publisher=[[Hindi Granth Karyalay]] |location=Mumbai |isbn=978-81-88769-41-4 }}
* {{citation |last=Sangave |first=Vilas Adinath |author-link=Vilas Adinath Sangave |title=Jain Community: A Social Survey |url={{Google books|FWdWrRGV_t8C|plainurl=yes}} |date=1980 |publisher=[[Popular Prakashan]] |location=Bombay |edition=2nd |isbn=978-0-317-12346-3 }}

==External links==
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/article/antiquity.htm History of Jainism]
*[http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/quote/quote1.htm Lord Mahavira Sayings]
*[http://www.theholidayspot.com/mahavirjayanti/mahavir_jayanti_the_festival.htm The Significance of Mahavira Janma Kalyanak] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401100541/http://www.theholidayspot.com/mahavirjayanti/mahavir_jayanti_the_festival.htm |date=1 April 2018 }}

{{Jainism topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:March observances]]
[[Category:April observances]]
[[Category:Jain festivals]]

Mahavira Janma Kalyanaka - Revision history

Miteshsoni at 05:03, 31 March 2026