Mahavira
Mahavira (599 BCE - 527 BCE), also known as 'Vardhaman', was the 24th Jain Tirthankara (teacher of dharma). He was born in 599 BCE in Kshatriyakund, near Vaishali in Bihar, India. He revived the Jain Dharma given by the previous 23 Tirthankaras. He gave five kinds of teachings: teachings on Non-violence (Ahimsa), Truthfulness (Satya), Non-stealing (Asteya), Control of the senses (Brahmacharya), and Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha). Mahavira taught that ahimsa (non-violence) is the highest virtue.[1] Mahavira passed away in 527 BCE in Pawapuri, in present-day Bihar, India. He was not the founder of the Jain religion, because there were 23 other Tirthankaras before him. After Mahavira, Jainism gradually spread to Orissa, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Images
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Four sided sculpture depicting Mahavira (found during excavation at Kankali Tila, Mathura)
Sculpture depicting Tirthankara Rishabhanatha (left) and Mahavira (right), British Museum
13 ft. 6 inches high single stone statue of Lord Mahavira at Ahinsa Sthal, New Delhi
References
[change | change source]- ↑ Jaina, Hīrālāla; Jaina, Dharmacandra (2002-01-01). Jaina Tradition in Indian Thought. p. 13. ISBN 9788185616841.
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