 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Diwali" Jainism – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Diwali | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Observed by | Jains |
| Type | Religious,India (national holiday) |
| Significance | Moksha ofMahaveer Swami |
| Celebrations | Going to theJain Temple |
| Observances | Prayers,religious rituals |
| Date | Amavasya ofKartika |
| Frequency | Annual |
| Related to | Diwali,Bandi Chhor Divas,Tihar,Swanti,Sohrai,Bandna |
| Part ofa series on |
| Jainism |
|---|
 |
Ethics Ethics of Jainism
|
Major sects |
Diwali inJainism marks the anniversary ofNirvana (final release) or liberation ofMahavira's soul, the twenty-fourth and last JainTirthankara of thepresent cosmic age. It is celebrated at the same time as the Hindu festival ofDiwali. Diwali marks the end of the year for Jains, and it likewise commemorates the passing of their twenty-fourth Tirthankara Mahavira and his achievement of moksha.[1]
According toTilyapannatti ofYativrsabha,Mahavira attainedMoksha (liberation) on this day atPawapuri on 15 October 527 BCE, onChaturdashi ofKartika.[citation needed]
Mahavira, the 24thTirthankara of this era, revitalisedJain dharma. According to tradition, the chief disciple ofMahavira,GanadharaGautam Swami also attained omniscience i.e. absolute or complete knowledge (Kevala Jñāna) on this day, thus making Diwali one of the most important Jain festivals.[citation needed]
Mahavira attained his nirvana at the dawn of theamavasya (new moon). According to theŚvētāmbara textKalpasutra, many gods were present there, illuminating the darkness.[2] The following night was pitch black without the light of the gods or the moon. To symbolically keep the light of their master's knowledge alive:
16 Gana-kings, 9 Malla and 9 Lichchhavi, of Kasi and Kosal, illuminated their doors. They said: "Since the light of knowledge is gone, we will make light of ordinary matter" ("गये से भवुज्जोये, दव्वुज्जोयं करिस्समो").
Dipavali was mentioned inJain books as the date of thenirvana ofMahavira. In fact, the oldest reference to Diwali is a related word, dipalikaya, which occurs inHarivamsa Purana, written by Acharya Jinasena[3] and composed in theShaka Samvat era in the year 705.
ततस्तुः लोकः प्रतिवर्षमादरत् प्रसिद्धदीपलिकयात्र भारते |
समुद्यतः पूजयितुं जिनेश्वरं जिनेन्द्र-निर्वाण विभूति-भक्तिभाक् |२० |
tatastuḥ lokaḥ prativarśam ādarat
prasiddha-dīpalikaya-ātra bhārate
samudyataḥ pūjayituṃ jineśvaraṃ
jinendra-nirvāṇa vibhūti-bhaktibhāk
Translation: The gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra (i.e. Lord Mahavira) on the occasion of his nirvana.
Dipalikaya roughly translates as "light leaving the body".[4] Dipalika, which can be roughly translated as "splendiferous light of lamps", is used interchangeably with the word "Diwali".[citation needed]
The Jain year starts withPratipada following Diwali. Jain calendar is known asVira Nirvana Samvat and their year 2501 started with Diwali of year 1974. The Jain business people traditionally start their accounting year from Diwali. The relationship between the Vir and Shaka era is given in Titthogali Painnaya and Dhavalaa by AcharyaVirasena:
पंच य मासा पंच य वास छच्चेव होन्ति वाससया|
परिणिव्वुअस्स अरिहितो तो उप्पन्नो सगो राया||
Thus the Nirvana occurred 605 years and 5 months before the Saka era.
On Diwali morning, Nirvan Ladoo is offered after praying to Lord Mahavira in all Jain temples across the world.[4] The most important principle of Jains is Ahimsa, or non-violence; therefore, they tend to avoid firecrackers during Diwali as they can harm living organisms. Diwali is celebrated in an atmosphere of austerity, simplicity, serenity, equity, calmness, charity, philanthropy, and environmental consciousness. Jain temples, homes, offices, and shops are decorated with lights and diyas. Relatives distribute sweets to each other. The lights symbolize knowledge and the removal of ignorance. Swetambar Jains observe two days of fasting in remembrance of the penance and sacrifice of Mahavira. In temples and homes, devotees sing hymns and chant mantras from Jain religious texts in praise of the Tirthankar, congregating for prayers and reciting verses from the Uttaradhyayan Sutra, which contain the last teachings of Mahavira. Jains also visit Pawapuri and Nalanda in Bihar on this special day to offer their prayers. The Jain year starts with Pratipada, the day after Diwali.[5]
Another longstanding tradition is to purchase new account books or ledgers to bring good luck and prosperity for the new year.[6]
| Gods | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | |||||
| Branches |
| ||||
| Practices | |||||
| Literature | |||||
| Symbols | |||||
| Ascetics | |||||
| Scholars | |||||
| Community |
| ||||
| Jainism in |
| ||||
| Jainism and | |||||
| Dynasties and empires | |||||
| Related | |||||
| Lists | |||||
| Navboxes | |||||
