Lor d Maha vira

Dr.T.V.Rao MD
 Who Is Mahavira

Mahavira (महावीर lit. Great Hero) (599 –
527 BCE) is the name most commonly
used to refer to the Indian sage
Vardhamana (Sanskrit: वधधमान
"increasing") who established what are
today considered to be the central tenets
of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he
was the 24th and the last Tirthankara
 Beginning of Lord Mahavira

As King Siddhartha's
son, he lived as a
prince. However,
even at that tender
age he exhibited a
virtuous nature. He
started engaging in
meditation and
immersed himself in
Self-contemplation.
 Awakening and Enlightenment

After having left behind
the pleasures of worldly
life, he went into the
state of deep silence for
a period of about twelve
and half years. During
this period, he learnt to
control his feelings and
desires. For quite a long
time, he went without
food. His search for truth
and the real virtues of life
made people call him
Mahavira.
 Jainism means Not Harming

He preached that truth
and clean living were the
priorities in life, as was
non-violence. Till today,
Jains do not even harm a
fly or a mosquito. True
Jains tie a cloth around
their nose, so as not to
breathe in or destroy
living organisms in the
atmosphere.
 Lord Mahavira:
Non-Violent Search For Supreme Tru
Tr

Mahavira, a great
prophet and teacher,
systematised the Jain
doctrines and embodied
them in a comprehensive
constitution of the faith.
He built the edifice of
Jainism by renovation
modification and
extension. Most of all, he
infused new life and
vitality into Arhata
tradition.
 Accept all as ONE

Mahavira said that
the one who rejects
the people and the
world, rejects his own
existence; and the
one who rejects his
own existence rejects
the existence of the
world.
Mahavira Advises the Humanity

Do not reject the existence of the world
and do not reject your existence as well.
The most important principle of
environment is that you are not the only
element. When you do something for
yourself you must know your action/s will
impact the entire world." So what can an
individual do? How do his actions affect
the rest of the world?
 Have Compassion

Live and let live.
Love all ‑ Serve all.

Where there is Love
there is Life.
Violence is Suicide

Have compassion
towards all living
beings. Hatred
leads destruction
Non violence Highest Religion

Silence and Self
control is
non‑violence

Respect for all living
beings is
non‑violence.

Non‑violence is the
highest religion.
 Who is a Worldly Man

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.
Why man is Unhappy

All human beings
are miserable
because of their
own ignorance,
and they
themselves can be
happy by acquiring
proper knowledge.
 Have compassion to Co - Humans

Have compassion
towards all living
beings. Hatred leads
destruction

Just I dislike pain, so
all other beings
dislike pain.

Aim to eliminate
suffering in the world
Attain God Hood

God is neither the
creator nor the
destructor of the
universe. He is
merely a silent
observer and
omniscient.

Know thyself,
recognize thyself, be
immersed by thyself ‑
you will attain
Godhood.
The Jain Theory on
Relationships

The same man is
regarded
simultaneously as son,
father, son-in-law,
father-in-law, nephew,
uncle, brother, cousin,
husband and so on; yet
there is no
contradiction owing to
an understood
relationship

which is termed in
Jainism as syadvada
Mere reading scriptures do not Help

Just as a millions of
lamps are of no use
to a blind person,
study of numerous
scriptures does not
do any good to a
person without
proper conduct
 What is True Renunciations

True renunciation
consists in
developing
indifference
towards the world,
the body and the
enjoyment.
What are the Evils

Anger causes
degradation of soul.
Pride leads to a low
state of existence.
Deceit is an
impediment
(hindrance) to progress
towards better state of
existence. Greed spoils
both, the present and
the future lives.
 Greed destroys Human Nature

Anger spoils good
relations, pride
destroys humility,
deceit is detrimental
to friendship, while
greed destroys
everything.
Who is a Free Man

A person who is free
from delusion (who
understands reality), has
no misery. A person who
is without any longing
has no delusion. A
person without greed has
no longing. A person
who does not have
possessions has no
greed.
 Navakär Mantra

The Navakär Mantra
contains the foremost
message of Jainism.
The message is very
clear. If we want to
be liberated from the
cycle of life and
death, we need to
renounce worldly
affairs by becoming a
monk or a nun.
Jainism leads to peace and
purity
Three Jewels of
Right Faith,
Right Knowledge
&
Right Conduct
are the path
leading to peace
and purity
Jainism
 Lord Mahavira becomes
Immortal

He died in 527 BC at
Parapuri in Bihar,
and left behind a
legacy of thought and
some beautiful
temples like the
Dilwara in Mt. Abu,
Rajasthan and
Shravanbelagola in
Karnataka.
Attains Nirvana
Around 500 BC, Lord
Mahavira, the last of the
24 Tirthankaras breathed
his last here. This is the
place where Lord
Mahavira achieved
Moksha or Nirvana
(Salvation from the
endless cycle of life and
death). He was cremated
at Pawapuri.
Jainism influences Indian
Culture

Although ancient Jain
scientific thought is
not so well known, it is
a rich source of Indian
scientific heritage. The
grand Jain spiritual
tradition and its
masters broadly
influenced Indian
thought and rationality
in three key areas:
 Mark Twain Praises Indian
Traditions

India is the cradle of the
human race, the
birthplace of human
speech, the mother of
history, grandmother of
legend, and great grand
mother of tradition. Our
most valuable and most
instructive materials in
the history of man are
treasured up in India
only."
 Worshipping at
Shravanbelagola
 Mahavir Jayanti Celebration

Mahavir Jayanti has a lot of religious
significance for people belonging to the
Jain religion. It is observed to celebrate
the birthday of the great Lord Mahavira,
who According to the Gregorian
calendar, the Mahavir Jayanti festival falls
during the period between March and
April. As a part of Mahavir Jayanthi
celebrations, the Jain temples are
beautifully adorned with flags.
 Mahatma Gandhi on Lord Mahavir

I say with conviction that
the doctrine for which the
name of Lord Mahavir is
glorified nowadays is the
doctrine of Ahimsa. If
anyone has practiced to
the fullest extent and has
propagated most the
doctrine of Ahimsa, it
was Lord Mahavira."
 Dr. Rabindranath Tagore on
Mahavira

Mahavira proclaimed in
India that religion is a
reality and not a mere
social convention. It is
really true that salvation
can not be had by merely
observing external
ceremonies. Religion
cannot make any
difference between man
and man."
Lokamanya Bala Gangadhar
Tilak on Mahavira

We learn from
scriptures (Sashtras)
and commentaries
that Jainism is
existing from
beginning less time.
This fact is
indisputable and free
from difference of
opinion. There is
much historical
evidence on this
 Dr. S. Radhakrishnan on Lord
Mahavir

There is nothing
wonderful in my
saying that
Jainism was in
existence long
before the
Vedas were
composed."
Mahavira laid down five ways to
get rid of wheel of life:

Do not destroy life
Speak the truth
Be celibate
Own nothing
Accept nothing that is not
freely given
Mahavira preached Salvation

He preached atheism or the absence of god.
Jainism also believes that one can achieve
salvation (freedom from wheel of life i.e.
rebirth). Jains use the word Karma to mean a
substance that binds the soul to physical world.
By causing sins you keep accumulating Karma
whereas meditation and fasting burns the
Karma. One can get freedom from rebirth
(Salvation) only after burning the Karma
accumulated in past lives.
Lord Mahavir attains Pure Bliss

At the age of 72 (527 B.C.), Lord

Mahavir died and his purified soul
left the body and achieved
complete liberation. He became
a Siddha, a pure consciousness,
a liberated soul, living for ever in a
state of complete bliss.
 Lord Mahavira’s
Teachings inspire the
Humanity for Salvation.
Dr.T.V.Rao MD
Email
doctortvrao@gmail.com