What is Jainism?
Jainism developed in India concurrently with Buddhism in the sixth century B.C.E., and it is currently practiced by people around the world.
The Triratna (Three Jewels) structure and guide Jainism: right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.
Through reincarnations, salvation (mokhsa) is achieved by cycling ever closer to liberating the soul from the contamination of matter (karma). The cycle is: animals → humans → lay people → monks → mokhsa/ nirvana. Mokhsa results in omniscience and eternal delight.
Two guiding features of Jainism are nonviolence and asceticism. All life is sacred, so respecting life is sacrosanct. For some Jain monks and nuns, this means practices such as muhpatti (folded cloths) over their mouths to keep from accidentally harming insects and practicing strict vegetarianism. Monks vow to abstain from killing, stealing, lying, sexual activity, and owning personal property.
Cyclical Time in Jainism
The universe is eternal, and it passes through cycles which are progressive and recessive. A complete cycle contains twelve units: six progressive and six recessive. The apex of each of these waxing and waning cycles (the third and fourth units of each) are times in which each cycle is at its extreme. It is during these times that Thirthankaras are born.
Tirthankaras (Ford-Markers) are spiritual guides. They are people who achieved mokhsa and now serve as examples for the people. Tirthankaras are not gods; Jains pray to them in temples because they would like to be like them.
We are currently in the fifth unit of the waning side of the complete cycle. Risabha, the first Tirthankara of the current age, was born in the third unit. Mahavira was born in the fourth. The fifth and sixth units of the declining half-cycle each last 21,000 years.
Mahavir Jayanti
Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Nataputta Mahavira (born Vardhamana Jnatiputra). Mahavira ("Great Hero") was born in 599 B.C.E. and died/ achieved nirvana in 527 B.C.E. He was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara (Teaching God) of the current age.
Mahavira emphasized nonviolence and is the founder of the current form of Jainism. So, Mahavir Jayanti is the most important religious holiday for Jains.
To celebrate, pilgrims from all over India gather at the shrines at Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat, at Mahavirji in Rajasthan, and at Pawapuri and Vaishali in Bihar. Vaishali is Mahavira's birthplace, and every year, Vaishali Mahotsava (a festival) is held there.
In other places, chariot processions occur with prominent images of Mahavira. Temples have elaborate ceremonies, scriptures are read, and there are a few fairs which are held. For most practitioners, though, Mahavir Jayanti is marked by ascetic practices such as fasting and practicing charity. For many, fasting means not consuming food or water for 36 hours. This is an example of a practice which can help lead to mokhsa.
Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated each year on the thirteenth day of the waxing half of the Hindu month of Caitra. This year, Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated on April 20, 2016.
—by Melissa Coles, MDiv candidate