The Great Holy Man of Peace and truth- Mahavira of Magadha

A subtle story like taking an introspecting walk around the aisles of Pavapuri, about Lord Mahavira's life, the last and 24th Trithankara of Jainism who, the man who flourished in austerities for the greater good of humanity.

Mahavira practicing Dhyana(Meditation)

As children we all have been taught moral virtues like Non-Violence, Kindness, Simplicity, etc, considering that the highest religion of Peace and Simple Living like Buddhism and Jainism practiced in countries like Japan and China had originated in India, one wonders what might be the backstory of the leaders who gave birth to a divine level of thinking worshipped and accepted by the true followers of humanity. Their religion is the one that preaches Simplicity and finding Happiness and Satisfaction in minute things. It's like moving back to observe the roots which have given birth to such a strong and beautiful tree of life.

The glorious history and significance of Magadha are no longer a subject to which people around the world are oblivious. Magadha holds prominent importance to structure the foundation of India as it is today. Hence it should come as no surprise that the major leaders of the world’s most peaceful and simple religions were from Magadha and conducted their austerities and preaching for a long time at Magadha before spreading their teachings around the world. Indeed, it is Buddhism that pops into one’s mind at first because of its popularity globally, but it was Jainism that originated first, revived by someone who walked on the nearly same path as Gautama Buddha, but a very long, long time before him.

Those who are from Bihar and visit Pavapuri as a part of their weekly outing would barely register the enormous fact that what significance Pavapuri holds in the golden cultural and historical history of Bihar. Most of the locales are just lightly aware it’s the death place of the Mahavira, the 24th and the last Tirthankara of Jainism Religion. Though people consider Lord Mahavira to vaguely resemble Gautama Budhha, Mahavira happens to be the ancient contemporary of Buddha. But yes both men resemble each other as they followed almost the same beliefs and practices to have attained the universal knowledge they gained from their stringent meditative austerities. That and they both belonged and attained the highest penance in Magadha, modernly known as Bihar. Somehow Magadha ruffled the hearts of Buddha and Mahavir in such a manner that they abandoned their identities, class, and even their families.

The life of Lord Mahavira is so unfocused that even his birth year can’t be determined with surety, his portraits a lighter and duller shades of yellow as he sits in his meditating pose, a symbol of a lion beneath him, with no means to notice his facial features, that’s how ancient Mahavira is. His memory has been tinged with yellowish gold which needs to be purified so that the real man and his struggles to revive Jainism in the country could come forward,

Mahavira is said to have been born in a Kshatriya Jain family in a small town called Kundalpur which is 60km away from Patna, the present capital of Bihar. He was born in prosperity as the Prince Vardhama of the Ikshvaku Dynasty, established by the first Tirthankara Rishabhnatha. Mahavira’s parents King Sidharta and Queen Trishala had the good fortune of 28 years of their son’s presence in their lives until at the age of 28 years Mahavira abandoned his kingdom, his name, all his future fortunes that could be his if he had stayed. But the world was destined to be blessed with leadership that could immune it from all evils which hinder humanity to function to the fullest. And so Prince Vardhama, forsaking all worldly comforts started a life of tough austerities for more than twelve years, eventually attaining the title of Mahavira, the greatest of all men.

Today Jainism has become a religion that has been open-heartedly selected by more than 4451753 people in India, with the highest Jain population residing in Maharashtra and the lowest in Karnataka. Strangely, enough Mahavira was a child of the ancient Magadha but rarely any sense of deep-seated feeling for Jainism is to be found at the formal Mahajanpath of Bhartavarsha. But it is true enough that the struggles of a young man who chose to sacrifice his everything, to revive a notion of living which is the way of existence for so many people across the country is evident and should be remembered from time to time.

Mahavir Jayanti, the birthday of Lord Mahavira is celebrated on the 13th day of the month Chaitra. It was thirty years of undivided preachings about lessons like Ahimsa (Non-Violence), Satya (Truth), Brahmacharya (Chastity), and Aparigraha (Non-attachment) that Mahavira attained Moksha in the sixth century BC. Pavapuri, the Jain temple, in the district of Nalanda in Bihar is the holy site where Lord Mahavira breathed his last. Even today when one takes a stroll around the white glistening pathway of the beautiful Sufi-styled temple while feeding puffed rice to fishes in the enormous pond of the temple, one can feel his soul purifying, echoing the essence of Jainism, as saints chant away the selfless glory of the man who gave humanity a chance at survival after turning the winds of his own life.