Mahavir Jayanti is also known as Mahavir Janm Kalyanak, which means his birth blessed everyone. The ideal way to celebrate the birthday of the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara would be by offering a helping hand to all. Whatever you have, share it. If you work in an office, or own a shop or a factory, ensure that you do something to make your co-workers happy. Offer a helping hand to a family member who may be going through a rough patch.
The best way to celebrate the day would be by implementing his teachings. Try and understand his life and teachings and implement them. Mahavir says the karam, the deeds that you do, will attract the same in return. Why is it that four children born to the same parents don’t attract the same fortune? They reap the fruits of their deeds.
Mahavir says one has to practise ahimsa or non-violence to attain liberation and achieve happiness. If you don’t like some feeling, assume that others may not like it either. One must aim to achieve happiness for one’s self and pass it on to others.
Lord Mahavir teaches us to avoid arguments and contradicting other people’s beliefs.
Lord Mahavir tells us that the wealth we gather is at times more than we actually need. He tells us to gather everything that you may need but let go of what you don’t, so the needy can benefit. It is not that you should not make money. But money should be shared after your needs are fulfilled in order that someone needy can benefit. The teachings of Lord Mahavir are responsible for the Jain community’s beliefs in donations. Mahavir Jayanti is a good day to revive and act on all that he has taught us.
Dhirajmuni Maharaj Saheb
