If youre looking for some great books to support and inspire your history studies, weve devised a list of seven of the best history books out. The texts containing the teachings of mahavira are called the. Beautifully brought to life by the delicate paintings of demi and the powerful yet simple narrative of nationally recognized writer, manoj jain, the story of mahaviras. The book offers a brief story of mahavira, beginning with his birth to a royal family in what is described as a faraway land called india. Mahavira, also known as vardhamana was the 24th tirthankara of jainism. Below are a selection of pages from the kalpasutra the book of ritual. As he grew he learned through books and wanted to become a monk. The only known book by mahavira is ganita sara samgraha t, dated 850 ad, which was designed as an updating of brahmaguptas book. Mahavira died at the age of 72, near rajgir in bihar. Prince of peace a beautifully illustrated book on the. Vardhamana meaning prosperous was an important indian religious figure who became the leader of a sect of wanderer ascetics sramanas, one of the many sects which existed at that time in india.
At the time of his death he had about 14,000 followers. At the time of his birth, the whole town marked prosperity in term of agriculture, health, wealth and wisdom. Background works on jainism include hermann jacobi, trans. Traditional dating of the life of vardhamana, according to jain tradition. Demis book gandhi was named a new york times best illustrated book and received an. He abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of about 30 and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening. Mahavira 540 bce468 bce, also known as vardhamana, was the twentyfourth and last.
As the son of a king he had a privileged childhood and was raised in the lap of luxury. In the 20th century the digambara movement was revitalised through the work of acarya shantisagar. Mahavira 540 bce468 bce, also known as vardhamana, was the twentyfourth and last tirthankara of jainism. Life of mahavira jaina and his teachings history discussion. He grew up to be a brave lad and is once said to have controlled a fierce serpent. The hero of nonviolence is a story of a young prince, mahavira, who was destined to teach peace and nonviolence. Jain tradition holds that mahavira was born in the early part of the 6th century bce into a royal kshatriya jain family in presentday bihar, india. He was the spiritual successor of 23rd tirthankara parshvanatha. Bushs story time, sponsored by the childrens literacy initiative.
Everywhere, the common people as well as the kings listened to him. Jainism vardhamana mahavira ancient indian history notes for upsc vardhana mahavira was the 24th tirthankara a great teacher and is said to have propounded jainism. I invite you, dear reader, to explore this wonderful story of lord mahavira, whose message is as fresh now as it was two and a h thousand years ago. A concise guide to nine major faiths, penguin books. Lord mahavir, as usual, was always going from one place to other, he stopped near a big tree to meditate.
His remarkable life was an example of austerity, purity and morality. The tenets of jainism and facts about mahavira are important for ias exam as it makes significant part of indian ancient history and indian culture. He remarksthe worthy men of the past, present and the future all say thus, speak thus, declare thus, explain thus. Mahavira, also known a s vardhamana was the 24th tirthankara of jainism. He is best known under the name of mahavira, which is not an actual name, but a title that means great victor. Life of mahavira according to modern scholar consensus. Mahavira was a contemporary of gautama buddha, the primary figure in buddhism on whose teachings buddhism was founded. He was born into a royal family in what is now bihar, india. He set up a wellknit religious organization known as the sangha.
While wandering and preaching his gospels tirelessly, mahavira jaina died at the age of 72 at a place named pava near the city of rajagriha. Mahavira was the 24th and last tirthankara of jainism. According to the universal history in jain texts, mahavira underwent many rebirths total 27 births before his 6thcentury birth. Mahavira was born into a royal family of kshatriyas in present day bihar, india. However, with time he realized that his luxurious life did not provide him any satisfaction and at the age of 30 he renounced all his worldly.
517 849 1427 1370 428 1339 63 288 476 508 1450 209 174 879 198 1384 1411 754 783 620 606 70 869 857 629 574 387 1113 51 687 1203 1130 1388 778 818 731