Jainism is regarded as one of the oldest religion in the world. It
believes in the cyclical nature of the universe. Jains are the followers
of 'Jinas', which means conqueror. To conquer love and pleasure, hatred
and pain, and thereby freeing his/her vices from the karmas obscuring
love, knowledge, perception, truth and ability is called a Jina. Jainism
is also a syncretistic religion, which contains many elements similar to
both Hinduism and Buddhism. Regarding the origin of Jainism it dates
back before the Pre-historic culture. Since its existence more than 5000
years ago, Jainism has never compromised its core principle of
non-violence. Rather it upholds non-violence as its supreme religion in
the following words of Ahimsa paramo Dharmah and has strictly emphasized
its practice at all levels. Jainism presents a truly enlightened
perspective of equality of souls, irrespective of differing physical
forms, ranging from human beings to animals and microscopic living
organisms. Humans, alone among living beings, are endowed with all the
six senses of seeing, hearing, tasting smelling, touching, and thinking;
thus humans are expected to act responsibly towards all life by being
compassionate, honest, fearless, forgiving, and rational.
Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated with great fervor and devotion across the
country. The festival is celebrated on a large scale in Gujarat and
Rajasthan where many people practice Jainism. Celebration can be
witnessed at Jain Shrines in Girnar and Palitana in Gujarat, at
Pawanpuri in Bihar and at Parasnath temple in Calcutta. These are some
of the places where Mahavir Jayanti is followed with great enthusiasm
and joy. Some of the famous Jain Pilgrim centers in India are Parsvanath
hill in Bihar, which is the cradle of Jainism. Named after the 23rd
Tirthankar, the Jains believe that most of their 24 Tirthankars attained
enlightenment or liberation on this hill. More pilgrims visit the hill
during the Mahavir Jayanti festival than at any other time. Another
attraction for Jain pilgrims is Mount Girnar near Junagadh in Gujarat.
According to Hindu scriptures, the mountain was the venue of festivals
and fairs of the Yadavas. The 22nd Tirthankar, Neminatha, is said to
have attained nirvana here. The only important Jain shrine in the South
is at Shravana Belgola near Mysore. There are two hills at the place
i.e. Indrabetta and Chandragiri. On the former is the famous huge statue
of the Digambara Saint Gomatesvara, which is 17 metres high, in the
Dude, in keeping with Digambara traditions.
