Mahavira Jayanthi
Description:
Digambara (dressed with light) - followers of one of the sects believe that Mahavira was born in 615 BC, Shvetambara (dressed in white) - followers of another sect - that in 599 BC near the city of Vaishali. His father came from a Kshatriya family (a class of aristocrats), and his mother came from an influential family belonging to the Lichhava tribe.
At the age of 30, distributing his property, he became a wandering ascetic. Dedicated 12 years to total austerity. In the 43rd year of his life, Mahavira attained absolute knowledge and became a jina (winner), i.e., freed from any psychophysical dependence. This happened under the Sal tree, which became sacred to the Jains.
For 30 years he promoted his teachings in various Prigang states and gained many students and followers. Mahavira passed away at the age of 72, starving himself to death (468 BC).
The path to liberation defined by Mahavira is the following of the “three jewels”:
The first is the “perfect worldview”, that is, the ability to see the world as it is represented in the teachings of Mahavira.
The second is “perfect knowledge”: understanding the true essence of the soul and the surrounding world, overcoming ignorance, which is the main cause of “earthly passions and desires”;
The third is “perfect behavior,” i.e., following Mahavira’s rules. They are reduced to the fulfillment of the “five great vows (panchamahavrata): ahimsa (non-harming living beings); satya (righteousness); asteya (non-appropriation of another’s); brahmacharya (observance of chastity); aparigraha (abstinence from vain attachments, i.e. renunciation of property, entertainment, pleasures).