Bhagwan Mahavira, the 241 Tirthankara of the great Jain tradition was born in a royal family in the district of Vaishali in Bihar. His father, King Siddhartha was the ruler of this region and mother Trishala was the daughter of King Cetaka.



Mahavira's childhood name was Vardhamana. Even as a child, he was full of compassion and showed spiritual inclination. His sensitive and contemplative nature led him to explore the causes and remedies of the various ills that he saw in the society around him. After leading the life of a householder till the age of thirty, he abandoned the world in the search for truth and became an ascetic. He wandered from place to place for twelve years, leading a life of penance, austerity, self-discipline and self-purification. He attained omniscience (kewala-jnana or kaivalva) at the age of forty two, having found solutions for all the problems connected with life and the universe through deep meditation. Thus, through kaivalm, he conquered misery and happiness. Because of this conquest he is known  as Mahavira.



Mahavira preached the five great principles of non-violence, truth, absolute honesty, non-possession and  celibacy. He  gave  the  message  of  love  and compassion  towards all living beings. He held that salvation  is nothing  but eternal  bliss which can  be realised in this very existence by one's well directed efforts. He was of the view that man himself was the master of his destiny and every soul had the capability to rise to absolute perfection, the supreme position where it was free from the bondage of transmigration. Bhagwan Mahavira admitted men and women alike into his order without any discrimination. He launched a crusade  against  all  ills prevalent  in  society.



Ahimsa (non-violence) and Anekant (the theory of multiple facets of truth & reality) were central to Mahavira's teachings. He exhorted his followers not to kill, injure, enslave, torture or exploit any living being. In the strife-torn world of hatred and hostilities, aggression and unscrupulous exploitation, Jain teaching of Ahimsa not only towards human beings but towards life in all its forms, has a special significance. Non-violence in Jain philosophy has a much wider connotation than its literal meaning. It entails compassion, empathy, charity, universal friendliness and universal forgiveness. Anekant, and in its subtlest form, Ahimsa also teaches tolerance of contrary thought and view.



Bhagwan Mahavira's teachings have an enduring relevance and if put into practice, they will not only add meaning to the life of individuals, but also make the world a much better place to live in.



The Department of Posts is privileged to pay homage to Bhagwan Mahavira by issuing a postage stamp to mark the celebrations of his 26001 birth anniversary. The stamp portrays a composite symbol summarising much of Jain teaching.



Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India