Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana was the 24th tirthankara of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of 23rd tirthankara Parshvanatha. Jain tradition holds that Mahavira was born in the early part of the 6th century BCE into a royal Kshatriya Jain family in present-day Bihar, India. He abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of about 30 and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening, becoming an ascetic. Mahavira practiced intense meditation and severe austerities for 12 years, after which he is believed to have attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). He preached for 30 years and is believed by Jains to have attained moksha (salvation) in the 6th century BC, although the year varies by sect.
Historically, Mahavira, who preached Jainism in ancient India, was a contemporary of Gautama Buddha. Scholars variously date him from 6th-4th century BCE and his place of birth is also a point of dispute among them.
Mahavira taught that observance of the vows of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-attachment) are necessary for spiritual liberation. He taught the principles of Anekantavada (many-sided reality): syadvada and nayavada. Mahavira’s teachings were compiled by Indrabhuti Gautama (his chief disciple) as the Jain Agamas. The texts, transmitted orally by Jain monks, are believed to have been largely lost by about the 1st century CE (when the remaining were first written down in the Svetambara tradition). The surviving versions of the Agamas taught by Mahavira are some of Svetambara Jainism’s foundation texts, but their authenticity is disputed in Digambara Jainism.
Mahavira is usually depicted in a sitting or standing meditative posture, with the symbol of a lion beneath him. His earliest iconography is from archaeological sites in the North Indian city of Mathura, and is dated from the 1st century BCE to the 2nd century CE. His birth is celebrated as Mahavir Janma Kalyanak and his nirvana (salvation) is observed by Jains as Diwali.
Enlightening Mahavira Quotes
Do not injure, abuse, oppress, enslave, insult, torment, torture, or kill any creature or living being.
Mahavira
Kill not, cause no pain. Nonviolence is the greatest religion.
Mahavira
Attachment and aversion are the root cause of karma, and karma originates from infatuation. Karma is the root cause of birth and death, and these are said to be the source of misery. None can escape the effect of their own past karma.
Mahavira
Life Changing Quotes By Mahavira
Anger begets more anger, and forgiveness and love lead to more forgiveness and love.
Mahavira
By sincerity, a man gains physical, mental and linguistic straightforwardness, and harmonious tendency; that is, congruence of speech and action.
Mahavira
Live and allow others to live; hurt no one; life is dear to all living beings.
Mahavira
In happiness and suffering, in joy and grief, we should regard all creatures as we regard our own self.
Mahavira
The most important principle of environment is that you are not the only element.
Mahavira
Motivational Quotes By Mahavira
Do not deprive someone of his livelihood. This is a sinful tendency.
Mahavira
All souls are equal and alike and have the similar nature and qualities.
Mahavira
All breathing, existing, living, sentient creatures should not be slain, nor treated with violence, nor abused, nor tormented, nor driven away.
Mahavira
If you want to cultivate a habit, do it without any reservation, till it is firmly established. Until it is so confirmed, until it becomes a part of your character, let there be no exception, no relaxation of effort.
Mahavira
All are my friends. I have no enemies
Mahavira
The nature of things is dharma.
Mahavira
Greatest Quotes by Mahavira
Start the practice of self-control with some penance; begin with fasting.
Mahavira
Don’t accumulate if you do not need. The excess of wealth in your hands is for the society, and you are the trustee for the same.
Mahavira
One who neglects or disregards the existence of earth, air, fire, water and vegetation disregards his own existence which is entwined with them.
Mahavira
If one undertakes retrospection of the day’s events, one must do it regularly at the appointed hour, not fitfully, not doing it today, neglecting to do it tomorrow and the day after and then taking it up again on the fourth day. Such irregular practice is not conducive to the confirmation of the habit of retrospection.
Mahavira
Mahavira’s Quotes for inner peace
Modes are infinite, and laws are infinite.
Mahavira
Soul is the central point of spiritual discipline.
Mahavira
Eating constitutes the greatest obstacle to self-control; it gives rise to indolence.
Mahavira
A man is seated on top of a tree in the midst of a burning forest. He sees all living beings perish. But he doesn’t realize that the same fate is soon to overtake him also. That man is fool.
Mahavira