Mahāvīra

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This article is about the Tirthankara of Jainism. For the Jain mathematician, see Mahāvīra (mathematician).
Mahavira
Mahavir.jpg
Sculpture of Mahāvīra
Born 599 BCE
Died 527 BCE
Known for twenty-fourth tirthankara
Predecessor Parshva
Successor None
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Mahavira (599 BCE–527 BCE[1]), also known as Vardhamana, was the twenty-fourth and the last tirthankara of Jainism religion. He was born into a royal family in what is now Bihar state of India. At the age of 30 he left his home in pursuit of spiritual awakening. For the next 12 years he practiced intense meditation and severe penance, after which he achieved Kevala or enlightenment. He travelled all over India for next 30 years to teach his philosophy which is based on Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya and Aparigraha. Mahavira attained Nirvana after his physical death at the age of 72. He was one of the most popular propagators of Jainism, and he is regarded as a reformer of Jainism rather than its founder.

Contents

Early life[edit]

The exact place of birth of Mahavira is unknown. Historians have identified three places in Bihar state of India as his possible birth places. These are Basokund in Vaishali, Lachhuar in Jamui and Kundalpur in Nalanda. Most of the modern historians agree that Basokund is real birth place of Mahavira.[2] On the other hand, traditionally, Kundalagrama in ancient city of Vaishali is regarded as birth place of Mahavira and that place remains unidentified till date.[3] Likewise exact year of birth of Mahavira is unknown. Svetambara sect of Jainism believe that he was born in 599 BCE while Digambara sect of Jainism believe that he was born in 615 BCE.[4] Some historians identify Mahavira as senior contemporary of Gautama Buddha leaving his year of birth ambiguous.[5][6] but most of the historians and Jain followers agree that Mahavira was born in 599 BCE and place his date of birth on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chaitra month as per Jain calendar.[7][8] As per Gregorian calendar, this date fall either in March or April month.[9] Mahavira was born in royal family to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala, sister of King Chetaka of Vaishali.[10] His childhood name was 'Vardhamana'. Both his parents were followers of Parsva and strict Jain laypeople.[11]

According to svetambara tradition, the embryo of Mahavira was transferred from a Brahmin woman Devananda to a Kshatriya woman Trisala. This is described in Acharanga-sutra and Kalpa-sutra. In Vyākhyāprajñapti, Mahavira acknowledges Devananda to be his real mother.[12]

As a son of the king, Mahavira had all luxaries of life at his command. The name Mahavira is a Sanskrit word meaning Great Warrior. During his boyhood Mahavira brought under control a terrifying serpent and it is one of the reason for his title 'Mahavira'.[13] Mahavira has many other titles and epithets, including Vira, Sanmati and Jnataputta. The ancient texts refer to Mahavira as Nataputta[14] (son of Natas). This referred to his clan of origin, which is translated in sanskrit as jnatra.

Jain traditions are not unanimous about the marriage of Mahavira. According to one tradition he was celibate and according to other tradition he was married in young age to Yashoda and has one daughter named Priyadarshana.[15]

According to svetambara tradition, Mahavira died on 527 BCE; however digambara claims that his death was on 510 BCE. Different dating has been proposed by recent scholars. Some western scholars suggests that Mahavira's death would have been around 425 BCE.[16]

Ascetic life and awakening[edit]

Kevala Jñāna of Mahavira

At the age of 30 Mahavira abandoned all the comforts of royal life and left his home and family to live ascetic life for spiritual awakening. He underwent sever penaces, even without clothes. There is graphic description of hardships and humiliation he faced in the Jain text of Kalpasutra[17]

The Venerable Ascetic Mahavira for a year and a month wore clothes; after that time he walked about naked, and accepted the alms in the hollow of his hand. For more than twelve years the Venerable Ascetic Mahivira neglected his body and abandoned the care of it; he with equanimity bore, underwent, and suffered all pleasant or unpleasant occurrences arising from divine powers, men, or animals.
—Kalpa Sutra 117
Henceforth the Venerable Ascetic Mahavira was houseless, circumspect in his walking, circumspect in his speaking, circumspect in his begging, circumspect in his accepting (anything), in the carrying of his outfit and drinking vessel; circumspect in evacuating excrements, urine, saliva, mucus, and uncleanliness of the body; circumspect in his thoughts, circumspect in his words, circumspect in his acts; guarding his thoughts, guarding his words, guarding his acts, guarding his senses, guarding his chastity; without wrath, without pride, without deceit, without greed; calm, tranquil, composed, liberated, free from temptations, without egoism, without property; he had cut off all earthly ties, and was not stained by any worldliness: as water does not adhere to a copper vessel, or collyrium to mother of pearl (so sins found no place in him); his course was unobstructed like that of Life; like the firmament he wanted no support; like the wind he knew no obstacles; his heart was pure like the water (of rivers or tanks) in autumn; nothing could soil him like the leaf of a lotus; his senses were well protected like those of a tortoise; he was single and alone like the horn of a rhinoceros; he was free like a bird; he was always waking like the fabulous bird Bharundal, valorous like an elephant, strong like a bull, difficult to attack like a lion, steady and firm like Mount Mandara, deep like the ocean, mild like the moon, refulgent like the sun, pure like excellent gold'; like the earth he patiently bore everything; like a well-kindled fire he shone in his splendour.
—Kalpa Sutra 118

After twelve years of rigorous penace he achieved Kevala.[15] The acharanga sutra of svetambara describes Mahavira as all-seeing. Sutrakritanga however elaborates the concept as all knowing and provides details of other qualities of Mahavira.[3]

Teachings[edit]

Mahavira's Nirvana or Moksa. Circa 1472 painting from Kalpasutra

For the next 30 years Mahavira travelled far and wide in India to teach his philosophy. Mahavira's philosophy has eight cardinal principles – three metaphysical and five ethical. The objective is to elevate the quality of life.[18] Ahimsa or non-violence is first of five ethical principles. Mahavira taught that every living being has sanctity and dignity of its own and it should be respected just like we expect to respect our own sanctity and dignity. In simple words, we should show maximum possible kindness to every living being. The second principle is Satya or truthfullness which leads to good neighborliness in society. One should speak truth and respect right of property of each others in society. One should be true to his own thoughts, words and deeds to create mutual atmosphere of confidence in society. Third principle is Asteya or non-stealing which state that one should take anything not properly given. Fourth principle is Bramhacharya or chastity which stress steady but determined restraint over yearning for sensual or sexual pleasures. Fifth and final principle is Aparigraha or non-possession, non-attachment which requires complete detachment from people, places and material property.

Mahavira taught that pursuit of pleasure is an endless game, so we should train our minds to curb individual cravings and passions. That way one does achieve equanimity of mind, mental poise and spiritual balance. One should voluntarily limit acquisation of property as a community virtue which results in social justice and fair distribution of utility commodities. The strong and the rich should not try to suppress the weak and the poor by acquiring limitless property which results in unfair distribution of wealth in society and hence poverty. Attempting to enforce these five qualities by an external and legal authority leads to hypocrisy or secret criminal tendencies. So the individual or society should exercise self-restrain to achieve social peace, security and an enlightened society. Mahavira attained Nirvana at the age of 72 in 527 BCE.[15][19]

Mahavira is usually depicted in sitting or standing meditative posture with a symbol of Lion under him.

Reincarnations[edit]

Mahavira’s previous births are discussed in Jain texts like Trisastisalakapurusa Charitra and Uttarapurana. While a soul undergoes countless reincarnations in transmigratory cycle of samsara, the births of a Tirthankara are reckoned from the time he secures samyaktva or Tirthankar-nam-and-gotra-karma. Jain texts discuss about twenty-six births of Mahavira prior to his incarnation as a Tirthankara.[20]

There are various Jain texts describing the life of Lord Mahavira. The most notable of them is Kalpasutra by Acharya Bhadrabahu. The first Sanskrit biography of Mahavira was Vardhamacharitra by Asaga in 853 CE.[21]

Mahavira is linked to the first tirthankara Rishabha according to Jain legends. He was earlier born as the heretical grandson of Rishabha known as Marici.[22] During his time, many of his contemperories claimed to be the 24th tirthankara. Some of these were Puran Kashyapa, Makhali Goshala, Ajit Keshkambli, Pakuda Kachchhayan and Sanjay Vellathiputta. However, none of them have any special place in jaina universal history except Mahavira.[23]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Mahavira (Jaina teacher) – Encyclopedia Britannica". Retrieved 10 June 2013. 
  2. ^ Row over Mahavira’s birthplace - Times Of India
  3. ^ a b Dundas 2002, p. 25
  4. ^ Mahavir Jayanti: Birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira I Times of India
  5. ^ Kumar 2001, p. 3
  6. ^ Jainism: The story of Mahavira - Victoria and Albert Museum
  7. ^ Kristi L. Wiley: Historical Dictionary of Jainism, Lanham 2004, p. 134.
  8. ^ Lord Mahavir and Jain Religion
  9. ^ Concise Encyclopaedia of India - K.R. Gupta & Amita Gupta - Google Books. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2012-06-06. 
  10. ^ Glasenapp 1999, pp. 29–37
  11. ^ Jain 1991, p. 32.
  12. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 26
  13. ^ Jain Tirthankar Mahavir
  14. ^ Winternitz 1993, p. 408.
  15. ^ a b c "Jainism Literature Center - Articles". Retrieved 11 June 2013. 
  16. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 24.
  17. ^ Jacobi, Hermann (1884). (ed.) F. Max Müller, ed. The Kalpa Sūtra. Sacred Books of the East vol.22, Part 1 (in English: translated from Prakrit). Oxford: The Clarendon Press. ISBN 0-7007-1538-X.  Note: ISBN refers to the UK:Routledge (2001) reprint. URL is the scan version of the original 1884 reprint
  18. ^ Chakravarthi 2003, p. 3–22.
  19. ^ "Lord Mahavir and His Teachings". Jain University. 2011. Retrieved 15 June 2013. 
  20. ^ Glasenapp 1999, p. 327
  21. ^ Jain 1991, p. 59
  22. ^ Dundas 2002, p. 21
  23. ^ Nagārāja 2003, p. 127.

References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Mahavira
Wikisource has the text of the 1905 New International Encyclopedia article Mahāvīra.

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