Chapter I
What it celebrates
Mahavira, “great hero”, was born Vardhamana into a ruling family. At thirty he left home to live as an ascetic, and after twelve years of fasting and meditation he attained kevala jnana Perfect, all-knowing knowledge, attained by a soul freed from karma. Glossary, perfect knowledge. He taught for thirty years, organising the Jain community of monks, nuns and lay people, before reaching final liberation.
Jains do not see him as the founder of their religion but as the last of a long line of teachers who renewed it.
Chapter II
How it is kept
In temples, images of Mahavira are bathed in the abhisheka ritual, recalling the gods who, tradition says, bathed the infant. Processions carry his image through the streets on chariots. Jains listen to sermons on his teaching, give food and money to the poor, and many visit animal shelters or support campaigns for non-violence.
Chapter III
Around the world
Large celebrations take place at Jain pilgrimage sites such as Palitana in Gujarat, Shravanabelagola in Karnataka and Pavapuri in Bihar, where Mahavira is believed to have reached liberation, and in Jain communities in East Africa, Britain and North America.