Why in News? 

This year Mahavir Jayanti falls on 10^th April 2025. 

About Mahavir Jayanti: 

• Mahavir Jayanti is one of the most auspicious festivals in the Jain community. 
• This day marks the birth of Vardhamana Mahavira, who was the 24^th and the last Tirthankara who succeeded the 23^rd Tirthankara, Parshvanatha. 
• According to Jain texts, Lord Mahavira was born on the 13^thday of the bright half of the moon in the month of Chaitra. 
  • As per the Gregorian calendar, Mahavir Jayanti is usually celebrated during the month of March or April. 
• A procession is called with the idol of Lord Mahavira called the Rath Yatra. 
• Reciting stavans or Jain prayers, statues of the lord are given a ceremonial bath called abhisheka. 

About Lord Mahavira: 

• Mahavir was born to King Siddhartha of Kundagrama and Queen Trishala, a Lichchhavi princess in the year 540 BC in the Vajji kingdom, identical with modern day Vaishali in Bihar. 
• Mahavira belonged to the Ikshvaku dynasty. 
• Lord Mahavir was named Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”. 
• He abandoned worldly life at the age of 30 and attained ‘kaivalya’ or omniscience at the age of 42. 
• Mahavira taught ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity) and aparigraha (non-attachment) to his disciples and his teachings were called Jain Agamas. 
• It is believed that the Mahavira passed away and attained moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death) at the age of 72 in 468 BC at a place called Pavapuri near modern Rajgir in Bihar.