Mahavira | |
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24th Tirthankara | |
![]() Pratima of Shri Mahavir Swami at Shri Mahavir Ji temple, Kurauli Rajasthan | |
Other names | Vira, Ativira, Vardhamana, Sanmatinatha[1][2][3][4][5] |
Venerated in | Jainism |
Predecessor | Parshvanatha |
Successor | Mahāpadma/Padmanābha (first Tirthankara of the ascending next half of time-cycle) [6] |
Mantra | Śrī Mahāvīrāya Namaḥ |
Symbol | Lion[7] |
Age | 72 |
Tree | Shala |
Complexion | Golden |
Festivals | Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, Diwali |
Genealogy | |
Born | Vardhamāna c. 22 February 599 BCE[8][9] Kshatriyakund (Shvetambara)[1][10] Kundalpur, Nāya, Vajji (present-day Nalanda district, Bihar, India) (Digambara)[11] |
Died | c. 17 September 527 BCE[8][12] Pawapuri, Magadha (present-day Nalanda district, Bihar, India) |
Parents |
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Siblings | Nandivardhana Sudarśanā |
Spouse | Yashoda |
Children | one daughter, Priyadarshana, also called Anojja |
Dynasty | Ikshvaku dynasty |
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Mahavira (Devanagari: महावीर, Mahāvīra), also known as Vardhamana (Devanagari: वर्धमान, Vardhamāna), the 24th Tirthankara (Supreme Teacher) of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha.[13] Mahavira was born in the early 6th century BCE to a royal Jain family of ancient India. His mother's name was Trishala and his father's name was Siddhartha. They were lay devotees of Parshvanatha. Mahavira abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of about 30 and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening, becoming an ascetic. Mahavira practiced intense meditation and severe austerities for twelve and a half years, after which he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). He preached for 30 years and attained moksha (liberation) in the 6th century BCE, although the year varies by sect.
Mahavira taught that observance of the vows of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-attachment) are necessary for spiritual liberation. He taught the principles of Anekantavada (many-sided reality): syadvada and nayavada. Mahavira's teachings were compiled by Indrabhuti Gautama (his chief disciple) as the Jain Agamas. The texts, transmitted orally by Jain monks, are believed to have been largely lost by about the 1st century CE.
Mahavira is usually depicted in a sitting or standing meditative posture, with the symbol of a lion beneath him. His earliest iconography is from archaeological sites in the North Indian city of Mathura, and is dated from between the 1st century BCE and the 2nd century CE. His birth is celebrated as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak and his nirvana (salvation) and also his first shishya of Gautama Swami is observed by Jains as Diwali.
Historically, Mahavira, who revived and preached Jainism in ancient India, was an older contemporary of Gautama Buddha. Jains celebrate Mahavir Janma Kalyanak every year on the 13th day of the Indian Calendar month of Chaitra.[14]