 The auspicious event of the chyavan of Bhagwan Mahavira took place on the midnight of 6th day of the bright half of the month of Ashadh in the 544th year before the Vikram Era (600 B.C.) as His soul descended from the 10th devlok - Pranta. King Siddhartha and Queen Trishla were blessed with the great fortune of being the parents of Bhagwan Mahavira. On the beautiful moonlit night, when Queen Trishla conceived Bhagwan, she saw 14 auspicious dreams The dream interpreters proclaimed that the dreams augured the birth of a Great One, a Tirthankar. | Mahavir Jayanti or Mahavir Janam Kalyanak occurs on the 13th day of the rising moon of Chaitra and is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Mahavira, the twenty-fourth Tirthankara according to Jain mythology. He is the one who laid down the basic principles of Jainism. The five principles of Jainism as laid down by Lord Mahavira are Satya or truth, Ahimsa or non- violence, Achaurya of not stealing anyone else’s possessions, Bramhacharya or non-indulgence in sexual intercourse and Aparigraha meaning not assembling unnecessary goods. | The auspicious day of Mahavir Janmkalyanak is celebrated by Jains all over the world. Jains visit Jain temples, perform various kinds of Puja and fast on this day. Mahavir Jayanti is the greatest festival for the Jains. On this day people try to remember the teachings of Lord Mahavira and also make promises that they will not hurt anyone in the future; knowingly and unknowingly. The struggles and hardships faced by Lord Mahavira portray how great his individuality and his personality was. | About Lord Mahavira Bhagwaan Mahavira was born in modern-day Bihar as the son of king Siddharth and queen Trishla (also called Priyakarini). King Siddharth was the head of the powerful Lichchavi kshatriya (warrior) clan and queen Trishla was the sister of King Chetaka of Vaishali. Bhagwaan Mahavira’s parents were followers of Bhagwaan Parsvanath, our 23rd Tirthankar. At age 30, Bhagwaan Mahavira renounced the world and became a sraman monk. For a period of about 12 years thereafter, He engaged in deep meditation, often in strenuous solitude, and sometimes going without food and sleep for months. During this period, He often encountered others’ ignorance, ridicule, arrest, and torture and endured them with equanimity and compassion. In the 13th year of His renunciation, monk Vardhaman (as He was named by His parents) attained kevala gyaan - pure consciousness - a state in which He became all-knowing and all-seeing. "Then Sraman Bhagavan Mahavira became an arhat, a Jina, a kevalin, all-knowing and all-seeing. He knew and saw the grades and mutations of all the worlds including those of the gods, men, demons, etc., birth, stay and exit of all creatures in all the worlds, their migration from one life to another, from one world of existence to another, their mental thought, their deeds, and enjoyments, overt or covert - all came within the range of his unbarred vision." Kalpa Sutra, 121 For the next 30 years, Bhagwaan Mahavira delivered sermons. His spoken words were in the language of the people (Ardha-Magadhi Prakrit), as distinguished from the language of the scholars (Sanskrit). This should be no surprise, given that His message was that self-realization and eventual liberation was the birthright of all humans, regardless of caste, station, or belief. We celebrate Lord Mahavira’s birthday because He is our ultimate hero and model. We respectfully invite you to the celebrations. Welcome! | |
Shri Mahavir Janm Kalyanak Celebration: March 29 (Actual) April 8 (Observed)
Please note that Shree Mahavir Janam Kalyanak Celebrations and General Body Meeting will take place on Sunday, April 8, 2018. According to the lunar calendar, Bhagavan Mahavir was born on Chaitra Sud 13 which is on March 29th, 2018. We will perform Snatrapuja with nakro of $ 101, celebrating actual day. Shree Mahavir Janma Kalyanak will be celebrated at the Jain Center with its usual festivity and fervor on Sunday, April 8, 2018. The program will be as follows: Time /Program:
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Snatra Puja (with Nakro of $101) 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Shree Mahavirswami Panch Kalyanka Puja (Total of 5 Pujas. Each Puja with nakro of $51.) Gheeboli will be conducted for Asthprakari Puja, Aarti, Mangal Divo and Shanti Kalas 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm: Ekasana 02:00 pm - 5:30 pm: Children's Cultural Program and General Body Meeting 05:30 pm - 6:30 pm Swamivatsalya Dinner Please note that dinner will be served till 6:30 pm so that everyone can finish dinner before sunset and avoid Ratri Bhojan. Please RSVP ahead of time so we can make necessary arrangements. A separate email will be sent to RSVP. For full or partial sponsorship of Ekasanas or Swamivatsalya Dinner, all are welcome. Sponsorships are: Ekasana $701, Swamivatsalya Dinner $11001 Grand Sponsorship Please contact:
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