|
|
Having attained
omniscience (Kevala-jnana) on the bank of Rju-kula and after
preaching the principle of Jainism through his divine voice (divya-dhvani),
lard Mahavira toured over different areas of the country and
propounded the religious doctrines. Afterwards he reached
Pavapura and seated himself on a clan or pure slab of stone in
a park studded with many ponds. He did not move out for two
days; and plunged in pure meditation (sukla-dhyana) he quitted
the mortal coil and became a Siddha in the last quarter of the
night of the 14th day of the black half of the
month of Kartika. This is graphically described in the Maha-purna of Puspadanta (3,
1-2)
The
Uttara-purana too describe this episode (76, 508-12) For
these references it is clear that Lord Mahavira attained
nirvana in a park, near Pavapura, round about which there were
many pounds or lakes. At present the site of the nirvana
of Mahavira is accepted near Bihar-Sherif
where a magnifificent Jaina temple stands in the centre
of a big lake. This is accepted as the tirtha-ksetra on all
hands. Both the sects, Digambra and Svetambra, have
voluntarily accepted this place as the spot of the nirvana of
Mahavira. |
|
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 on the
occasion of his nirvana. |
 |
In
Uttara-puraana written by Acharya GunBhadra (7th or 8th century) it
is mentioned that in
the month of Kartika, krashna paksha, svati nakshatra and on the
night of the 14th (dawn of the amavasya), lord
Mahavira became a Siddha (attained nirvana). An
ancient mention of Lord Mahavira's nirvana and lightening of
lamps occurs in
Kalpasutra of BhadraBahu, v. 123, "When Lord Mahavira came to
Madhyam Pava for his last varshavas, it was the fourth month of the
rainy season, seventh paksha, and
krashna of kartik. It was then the last day of krashna of
kartik. That night Lord
Mahavira attained nirvana." Kalpasutra mentions that due to the
presense of gods, the night was
illuminated. It further says "that On the amavasya
night, 16 gana-kings, 9 Malla and 9 Lichchhavi, of
Kasi and Kosal, illuminted their doors. They said: "The
light of knowledge
is gone, we will make light of ordinary matter".
Bhagavan
Mahavira discarded the body and the
bondage of all Karmas on that night of Diwali, at Pavapuri and attained Mukti
or deliverance. Thus
we have been celebrating Diwali with lights since the nirvana of
Lord Mahavira.
|
