Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, also known as Mahavir Jayanti, is the auspicious celebration of the day when Trishla Mata gave birth to Lord Mahavir, over 2600 years ago.We celebrate it on the thirteenth day of the bright half of the Indian month Chaitra. It’s rather like Christmas for Jains in that both Mahavir Jayanti and Christmas celebrate the birth of people that have inspired many spiritually.
Mahavir Janma Kalayank is a celebration of the life of Mahavir Bhagwan, who is our teacher, a guru in his time. He is a Tirthankar, showing us the path to liberation from the cycle of Life and Death and how to “walk” on this path, to find the hero within ourselves, to attain Self-Realisation and eventually to attain Moksha – Abundant, Infinite, Eternal, BLISS.
On the day of Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, we recall the legacy that Mahavir Bhagwan has left us; that we too can develop the qualities of universal friendship, compassion, appreciation and equanimity (foundational qualities), overcome negative tendencies, Kashays (anger, pride, deceit and greed), develop an understanding of the true nature of reality (using the 12 Bhavnas) and experience the bliss of the Soul. Mahavir Bhagwan was a living example of this, and we can use this example as our inspiration.
Kalyanak is an auspicious event or day and in the life of a Tirthankar and there are five events, which are considered auspicious and are collectively referred to as the Panch Kalyanaks. Mahavir Bhagwan is the last Tirthankar of the current cycle of 24 Tirthankars, and as such, we are born into this tirth.
• Garbha (Chyavan) Kalyanak – Soul enters the Human Realm
• Janma Kalyanak – Birth of Tirthankar Bhagwan
• Diksha Kalyanak – Celebration of Diksha,– taking the vow of Renunciation
• Keval Gnaan Kalyanak – Attainment of complete and Infinite knowledge
• Moksh Kalyanak – Sheds all remaining karmas forever and resides in abundant, Infinite, eternal bliss and knowledge.
Young Jains UK are delighted to make available this audio track featuring Bhagwan Shree Mahavir’s mother, Trishlamata’s 14 auspicious dreams. The track was produced for and launched during Little Jains’ celebrations of Mahavir Janma Kalyanak in 2012.