Jain Diwali: Nirvana Kalyanaka of Lord Mahavira

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Lord Mahavira Attained Nirvana (Salvation) on Diwali night. Jain community celebrates Diwali to worship Nirvana Kalyanaka of Lord Mahavira.

Mahavira, last of all twenty four Tirthankara, liberated from Pawapuri, Bihar on Kartik Krishna Amavasya. Pawapuri was called Madhyam Apapa Nagari at that time.

Mahavira, got enlightened and became omniviscent at the age of 42 in Jrimbhika village, Bihar on the bank of river Rjubalika. He eliminated all four Ghati Karma in process of Asseticism. His holiness lived and preached in the earth for 30 years after that. He has got Indrabhuti Gautama as his principal desciple alongwith ten other Ganadhara.

Lord Mahavira preached continuously and spontaneously for fourty eight hours before attaining Niravana on Diwali. He preached fifty five chapters of Punyafal Vipaka, fifty five chapters of Papafal Vipaka and thirty six chapters of Aputthabagarna alias Uttaradhyayana Sutra during these two days according to Kalpa Sutra.

There was fourteen thousands Monks and thirty six thousands Nuns in his Sangha. Indrabhuti Gautama was the head of Shramana (Monks) Sangha and Chandanvala was the head of Shramani (Nuns)Sangha of Lord Mahavira.

Indrabhuti Gautama became omniscient just after Nirvana of Lord Mahavira. Jain community observes Diwali to worship Kevala Jnyana of Indrabhuti Gautama too.

According to Kalpa Sutra, a sacred Jain text, people lighted "Dipak"(Like candle) to get earthly light. Mahavira was divine light.

Dipak also spelled as Deepak produces light. People put Deepak in series and rows. Aavali means row or line. Hence the word derived combining both Deep and Aavali was Deepavali. The word Diwali  is inherited from word Deepawali or Deepavali.

Festival of India: Dhan Teras and Diwali 
Diwali in Jaipur 

Thanks,

Jyoti Kothari

Jyoti Kothari is an author and hubber who writes about Gems and Jewelry, India, Economy, Finance, Management, Skills, Job, Employment, Food, Environment, Jainism and on many other topics.
He is proprietor, Vardhaman Gems, Jaipur, representing centuries old tradition of Excellence in Gems and Jewelry.

Paryushan Photos: Kalpasutra

Swapnalakshana Pathaka
(Interpreters of Dreams)

Trishla tells her dreams to

Maharaja Siddhartha

Grief and Joy of Trishala Mata

Trishala Mata dreams 14 auspicious images while sleeping in her palace. She woke up and told King Siddhartha, her husband, about the dreams. She asked him about the expected result of the dreams. King Siddhartha told her that they will be bestowed with a mighty, wise and beautiful child (Picture 2) . Siddhartha calls interpreters of dreams the next morning and they endorsed his view (Picture 1) .

Once Lord Mahavira thought that his movements as embryo would be painful for his mothers. He stopped his movements to keep her mother in rest. Queen Trishala, his mother,however, interpreted it wrongly. She thought that the embryo is dead. She filled with grief and sorrow. When Lord came to know that he started moving. Trishala became joyous knowing her embryo alive(Picture 3) .

Mahavira Swami Photos in Kalpasutra 
Paryushan Photos from Kalpasutra

Paryushan: Mahavira Swami Photos from Kalpasutra

14 Draems of Devananda Mata

Trishala Mata sleeping in her Palace

Harinaigameshi Deva transfers embryo
of Mahavira from
Devananda to Trishala Mata

Trishala Mata viewing 14 dreams

Lord Mahavira descending from Vaimanika Devaloka to the womb of Devananda Mata. His mother Devananda viewed 14 great dreams at that time (Picture 1) .

However, her joy did not prolong.Harinaigameshi Deva (god) took the embryo from her womb and transferred it to queen Trishala (Picture 3) by order Indra, the King of gods.

Trishala was sleeping in her palace at that time (Picture 2). She had the similar 14 great dreams after that (Picture 4).

Mahavira Swami Photos in Kalpasutra 
Paryushan Photos from Kalpasutra

My Paryushan

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Jyoti Kothari will be delivering Paryushan Pravachana at Jineshwar Suri Bhawan, Kolkata from 17 to 24 August 2009.

Paryushana starts on 17 and Samvatsari is on 24 August 2009.

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My paryushana 2008

Jyoti Kothari had been invited for preaching Paryushana in Tokyo. It was an eight days programme.
Pravachana on sacred Jain text the Kalpasutra had been delivered daily. Daily praticramana along with Pakshika on chaturdashi and Samvatsarika on the last day of the Paryushana were also conducted.
The Tokyo Jain Sangha also organized Samuhika Kshamapana and Sadharmi vatsalya. Daily pooja was conducted in the Vasupujya swami temple.