Mahavir Jayanti celebrated with SMS and greetings in India

Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, the 24th Teerthankar of Jain religion. Usually it occurs in the months of March or April but this year it is on Sunday, 28 March, 2010. Mahavir, also known as Vardhamana, is the last prophets in the 24 Teerthankaras galaxy. He was one of the greatest Teerthankaras born to Siddhartha and Trishala Devi in the year 599 B.C on the outskirts of Vaishali near Patna.

As a young prince, Mahavir displayed many instances of fearlessness which earned him the name, Mahavir. He was an epitome of physical prowess and intellectual insight. He gave up the comforts of the palace and his kingship and undertook the life of penance for 12 years. He simplified religious procedures and condemned violence in the form of animal sacrifice, superstitions and rituals.

Mahavir Jayanti remembers Lord Mahavir’s teaching, “Do unto others as you would like to be done by. Injury or violence done by you to any life in any from, animal or human is as harmful as it would be if caused to your own self.”

Mahavir initiated a very simple path for the householders, namely, Ahimsa (non injury-physical or mental, to others), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (temperance in sexual pleasure) and Aparigraha (non-acquisition of property). He also enforced upon abstinence from any kind of physical and material comforts for monks and nuns. He laid stress on highest ethical and spiritual discipline and emphasized that the Unity of Life forms is the highest saving principles of mankind.

Mahavir Jayanti reminds people of Lord Mahavira’s message of non-injury to every living being and stressed on the ill effects of never ending human craving that ends up destroying and exploiting other living species. Such human behavior may land them in deadly perils.

Even after 2500 years of passing away of this pious soul, monks till today maintain his pure and upright tradition and spreading Mahavir’s teachings of peace, non-violence, non-injury and brotherhood among people. Thousands of Sanyasins and Sanyasinis walk on foot on Mahavir Jayanti from town to town spreading his messages.

Prime Minster Manmohan Singh and President Smt. Pratibha Patil greeted the nation on this occasion. “Lord Mahavir’s profound message remains a beacon of hope in today’s world,” he said.

Mushayara held on Mahavir Jayanti

Bhopal, Mar 28:
A general meeting and programme Mushayara were organised under the aegis of Guldasta (literary organisation) on Sunday at Guldasta Bhawan, Chhawni (Mangalwara). The programme was presided over Professor Iqbal Ahmed Arif and the programme was conducted by the former Corporator and President of the organisation Mohammad Rais Khan.

Ashok Jain Bhabha was also present as chief guest. On the occasion, Corporator Aziz Uddin, Corporator Rafique Qureshi, Corporator Shahid Ali, spokesman of District Congress Anand Taran and large number of eminent personalities were present. Journalist Arif Aziz was felicitated by presenting Gultasta Samman. Jamal Ahmed expressed gratitude to all the personalities for attending the programme.

From Central Chronicle

Mahavir Jayanti Celebrated in Nepal

Himalayan News Service


KATHMANDU: Nepal Jain Parishad (NJP) celebrated the 2609th birth anniversary of Mahavir as a welfare festival today. Mahavir 24th Teerthankar of Jainism, a religion of non-violence and peace.

Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev, the chief guest, said that teachings of Mahavir were guidance for life, peace and non-violence.

Vice President Paramanand Jha, special guest in the programme, said that Nepal born Buddha and India born Mahavir were the towers of undefeatable principles of peace and non-violence.

At the programme chaired by Kishan Lal Dugar, president of NJP, Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna, Dr Kusum Pragya, and Manibhadra Muniji, founder of Jain Saint Nepal, underlined the teachings of Mahavir as a form of love, kindness and superhuman, treating all beings equally.

Jain community Raised Over £11K for RSPCA on Mahavir Jayanti

By Raj Sarin

March 31, 2010

Over 400 members of the Jain community in Manchester celebrated the birthday of Lord Mahavir over the weekend and marked the occasion by raising money for RSPCA.

The event took place at the Jain Community Centre, Longsight where Pujya Samri Ji Prasana Pragya and Samri Ji Rohit Pragya from Jain Vishwa Bharti, London held four days training to enrich life through practice of non-violence.

A stage production by young children and students showed the benefits of meditation and non-violence.

Jains try to follow the teachings of Lord Mahavira who taught his followers about the true path of happiness. His teachings on complete non-violence and the importance of austerity shows them the path to achieving salvation and spirituality.

A cheque for £11,768, collected by the Jain community was presented to Susie Hughes from RSPCA by the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Alison Firth.

Said Susie: "This was the largest amount RSPCA have ever received in the U.K. It is a most wonderful achievement from a community that should stand as an outstanding example to us all".

President of Jain Samaj, Piyush Mehta and vice presidents Kiran Mehta presented awards to Ruchir Shah and Ashok Mehta for raising the maximum funds for the charity and thanked the members of their community for their help.

Mahavir Jayanti Celebrations at Bangalore - Injustice to Jains

Bangalore (Karnataka), 15 March 2010: While th entire world will celebrateMahavira Jayanti (Janmakalyanak) on 28th March 2010 with all thegatherings, processions, meetings and functions, the Jains of Bangaloremight not be able to do that and might be restricted to having theircelebrations only with in the four walls of the temple or their houses. Thisis because of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) elections that isscheduled to be held on the same day. The election conducting body in Karnataka the Election Commision of Karnataka and the BBMP have not takenMahavir Jayanthi into consideration while declaring the dates for theelections. By this the Jains of Bangalore will be denied their right to voteunder Indian constitution as they will be involved in religiouscelebrations.

At the same time as it is an election day in Bangalore, people will not beallowed to make gatherings, hold meetings and take out processions as perthe election code of conduct. This is in denying the religious rights of theJains on the biggest festival of the community. Mahavir Jayanthi is adeclared holiday under the negotiable instruments act both by the Governmentof Karnataka and Government of India. As per the indian constitutionelections cannot be conducted on such days as it will lead to denying therights of the citizens.

Inspite of all the above facts the Election commission of Karnataka and theBBMP are moving ahead with conducting the elections. If it was a festivalday for any other community might be the authorities would have thoughttwice before announcing the dates of the election and in every possibilitythey would not have move ahead with conducting the election.
Since Jains are a micro minority and not a deciding factor in the electionprocess we have not been taken into consideration while deciding the datesof the elections. Adding to this as per the election proceedings thereshould be a gap of 10 days from the day of withdrawal of nominations and thedate of elections. However as per the announced schedule there only a gap of9 days between the two.

Taking the above points into consideration Jain Yuva Sangathan, All IndiaSwethambar Jain Samaj and other Jain organisations have filed a publicinterst litigation in the High Court of Karnataka and have the made theElection Commissioner of Karnataka and Commissioner, BBMP as therespondents. According to the petitioner, their community constitutes 10 percent of the population of Bengaluru and urged that no election should beconducted on general holidays.

During the Initial hearing a division bench headed by Justice V. GopalaGowda dismissed the PIL stating that election to the civic body has beenpending for almost four years and it is impossible to consider the plea whenthe SEC's calendar of events for the polls is in motion. However, the courtgave the Samaj the liberty to approach the SEC.

Another petition is pending for hearing and will come for hearing on 15thMarch 2010 at court hall no. 2 at the High Court of Karnataka. The Jainsamaj in hoping to get some positive results.

In the mean time it is the duty of every Jain to rise to the occasion and support the petitoners to fight the case. Please send in your replies andwords of support by replying at the following blog:
http://justiceforjains.blogspot.com http://justiceforja ins.blogspot. com/>or by mail to justiceforjains@ gmail.com.

Nitin H.P.