Though the title ‘Bhagwan' generally brings to mind Sri Ramana Maharshi (Tiruvannamalai) and Sri Ramakrishna (Dakshineshwar), it has been synonymous with the name of Sri Mahavir, the 24th and last Jain Tirthankara, for over 25 centuries.
Tirthankara is one who becomes a role-model teacher for those seeking spiritual guidance. He is like a beacon of light; he shows mankind the route to salvation. That is why Mahavir is revered as Tirthankara.
Fearless child
Mahavir was born Vardhaman, in a royal family but grew up to become a spiritual leader. As he was fearless and thoughtful since childhood, Vardhaman, the son of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala, also came to be known as Veer, Ativeer and Mahavir.
Pondering over the concept of life and death became Mahavir's pastime, and soon, his obsession. After spending the first 30 years of his life in the lap of luxury, he gave up all worldly possessions and went into the forest to meditate and live like an ascetic. He spent the next 12 years leading an austere life, in the pursuit of the supreme goal. He lived in caves, holding friends and foes alike undisturbed by the fury of Nature or cruelty of forest dwellers.
At 42, destroying every trace of attachment within, he attained salvation and reached sainthood. He became Bhagwan Mahavir. During the last three decades of his life, he propounded the concept of Sarvodaya or ‘the welfare of all living beings.'
Many learned scholars who opposed him, later became his ardent disciples. Thus, through his message of universal love and goodwill, he conquered the world. A contemporary of Socrates, the Buddha, Confucius and Lao-Tse, Mahavir's message laid the path to attain Nirvana and self purification, something that is followed even today.
His message
Mahavir's sermons, called Divya Dhwani, upheld the freedom of not only living beings, but also inanimate things, such as atoms. He emphasised that spirituality is for all creatures, and not confined to human beings. While he preached cardinal principles of Jainism that point out the 18 sources of sin -- causing violence, uttering falsehood, stealing -- he also suggests five vows (mahavrats) -- non-violence, truth, non-stealing, celibacy and non-attachment.
The greatest contribution of Jainism in general and Mahavir in particular to mankind is the importance of non-violence in thought, word and deed.
The Ahimsa concept spread all over the world not only when it came to protecting animals (from slaughter for food or rituals) but also in converting meat eaters into vegetarians, and saving trees from being cut down and planting more of them.
No wonder his teachings influenced towering personalities such as Mahatma Gandhi. The last Tirthanka left his body on a Deepavali day when he was 72.
