Mahavir Jayanti will be celebrated on the 21st of April. It is one of the most important religious festivals for the Jain community. Also known as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, this day celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of the present Avasarpini.

JAINISM

6^TH CENTURY B.C

FOUNDER: Vardhamana Mahavira,24^th Tiranthkara

BIRTH: 540 B.C Near Vaisheli,Bihar. His father name was Siddhartha who was head of Kshatriya clan and Mother name was Trishala,sister of Lichchhavi Chief Chetaka,whose daughter was wedded to Bimbisara.

Abandoned world at the age of 30-wandering for 12 years. Attained Kaivalayya at the age of 42 or Jina (Conqueror)

Passed away at the age of 72 years in 468 B.C

5 Doctrine

Do not commit Violence; Do not Lie; Do not Steal; Do not Acquire property and Observe continence

ROYAL PATRONAGE

Chandra Gupta Mauraya

Samprapati (Later Mauraya) known as Jain Ashoka

Amoghvarsha (Rashtrakuta King) ;author of ‘Ratna Malika’ and ‘Kavi Raja Marga’

JAIN COUNCILS

Jain Councils

Jain order has been divided into two major sects: Digambara and Svetambara.

Digambara :Monks of this sect believe in complete nudity.(BhadraBahu chief proponent and writer of ‘KalpaSutra)

Svetambara Monks wear white clothes. Sthulabhadra chief proponent