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Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the 24th Jain Tirthankara (Teaching God) of Jainism (a religion in India that emerged in the 6th century BCE). Being the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira was the spiritual successor of the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha.
See the fact file below for more information on the Mahavira or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Mahavira worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
EARLY LIFE
- Mahavira was born as Vardhamana in 599 BCE in Bihar, India.
- Mahavira’s date of birth is legendary, as many scholars believe he lived at the same time as Buddha.
- His mother’s name was Trishala, and his father’s name was Siddhartha. Both were lay devotees of Parshvanatha.
- Mahavira grew up as a quiet but brave prince.
- Despite being in a royal family, he still led a very simple life. Obeying his parent’s guidance, he married Princess Yashoda at a very young age, and the couple had a daughter, Priyadarshana.
- The Digambara tradition believes that Vardhamana refused to get married when his parents insisted.
RENUNCIATION
- At age 30, Mahavira finally abandoned royal life and left his home and family to embrace the ascetic life (a way of living characterized by abstinence from worldly pleasures for the purpose of pursuing spiritual goals) of a monk on the tenth day of Margashirsha.
PENANCE
- Mahavira lived the next twelve and a half years enduring a life of hard penance to drive away his basic attachments.
- He went through severe fasts and bodily mortifications, meditated under the Ashoka tree, and discarded his clothes.
- He followed a philosophy of non-violence against all living beings, including animals, birds, and plants.
- He traveled from place to place, often observing fasts and sleeping for only 3 hours each day.
- During his 12 years of penance, he traveled through Bihar, western and north Bengal, and parts of Orissa and Uttar Pradesh.
OMNISCIENCE
- According to traditional accounts, Mahavira achieved Kevala Jnana (omniscience, or infinite knowledge) under a Sāla tree on the bank of the Rijubalika River (modern-day Barakar River), at the age of 43 after twelve years of rigorous penance.
- He ultimately experienced perfect perception, perfect knowledge, perfect conduct, unlimited energy, and unobstructed bliss.
- He turned into a Jina, or one who is victorious over attachments.
- Mahavira was believed to have had a most auspicious body (paramaudārika śarīra) by the Jains and was free from 18 imperfections when he achieved omniscience.
- Based on the Śvētāmbara, he traveled across India to teach his philosophy for 30 years after attaining omniscience, but the Digambara believe that he stayed in his Samavasarana and delivered sermons to his followers.
ORGANIZATION
- Jain texts document eleven Brahmins as the chief disciples of Mahavira, traditionally known as the eleven Ganadharas.
- Mahavira captivated personalities from all walks of life, rich and poor, kings and commoners, men and women, princes and priests, touchable and untouchable. He formed his followers into a four-fold order, which are the monk (Sadhu), nun (Sadhvi), layman (Shravak), and laywoman (Shravika). This order is called the Jain Sangh.
TEACHINGS
- The ultimate intention of Lord Mahavira’s teaching was how individuals can achieve complete freedom from the cycle of rebirth, as human life is representative of pain, misery, and vices.
- The teachings described inner beauty and harmony of the soul.
- His message of non-violence (Ahimsa), honesty (Satya), no stealing (Asteya), celibacy (Brahmacharya), and non-possession (Aparigraha) is completely universal compassion.
- Mahavira stressed that every living creature, irrespective of their age, form, and nature, is equal because each is spiritually formed, and we should love and value each living creature. In this particular form, he preached the gospel of universal love.
THE FIVE VOWS
- At the center of conduct for Jains prevail the five great vows, which are:
- Ahimsa (non-violence) – not to cause harm to any living beings applies to actions, speech, and thought
- Satya (honesty) – to speak the harmless truth only
- Asteya (no stealing) – not taking anything that was not properly given
- Brahmacharya (celibacy) – abstinence from sensual pleasures for monks and faithfulness to one’s spouse for householders
- Aparigraha (non-possession) – total detachment from people, places, and material things
- Monks and nuns strictly observe these vows, while the common people follow the vows to the degree that their lifestyles allow.
INFLUENCE ON CULTURE
- Mahavira is usually called the founder of Jainism. However, Jainism existed before Mahavira, and his teachings were based on those of his predecessors.
- He supported the well-established creed of his predecessor Tirthankara Parshvanatha. However, he restructured the theological and philosophical systems of Jainism to correspond to his times.
- Different from Buddha, Mahavira was likely a reformer and propagator of an established religious order, not the founder of a new religion.
- Mahavira is normally depicted in a meditative sitting or standing pose, including a symbol of a lion under him.
- Mahavira’s nirvana (death) happened in the town of Pawapuri in present-day Bihar, aged 72, in 527 BCE. It is believed that his pure soul left his body and achieved complete freedom.
- He turned into a Siddha, a pure consciousness, a liberated soul living forever in a state of complete bliss.
- Mahavira’s life as a spiritual light and the night of his nirvana is commemorated by Jains as Diwali at the same time that Hindus observe it.
Mahavira Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Mahavira across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Mahavira worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, who was the 24th Jain Tirthankara (Teaching God) of Jainism (a religion in India that emerged in the 6th century BCE). Being the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira was the spiritual successor of the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha.
Complete List Of Included Worksheets
- Mahavira Facts
- Mahavira Acrostic
- Mahavira Initial Facts
- Biography of Mahavira
- Vocabulary Check
- Significant in Life
- Mahavira and Buddha
- The Five Vows & My Views
- Mahavira Followers
- Ultimate Accomplishments
- Summary
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Use With Any Curriculum
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