The 2550th Nirvan Kalyanak of Lord Mahaveera is a year-long festival commemorating the life and principles of the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. At the age of 72, Mahaveera attained nirvana (salvation) 2549 years ago on Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi, in Pawapuri (Bihar). This marked the culmination of his life's journey, a transition from a revered teacher to a Siddha — a perfect, liberated soul. The Jain community celebrates this auspicious night as Diwali, lighting lamps to symbolize the illumination and liberation he achieved. Diwali, the last day of the Jain calendar, becomes a radiant testament to Lord Mahaveera's enduring legacy.
(Photo courtesy: Pradip Jain)
(Photo courtesy: Pradip Jain)
Diwali holds special significance in Jainism as it marks the anniversary of the attainment of salvation by Lord Mahaveera. On this day in 527 BCE, he shed his mortal body and achieved Kevala Jnana (infinite knowledge), in Bihar. Lord Mahaveera was born as Vardhaman, the son of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala, at Kundgram in Bihar. He renounced his royal life and left his home at the young age of 30.
The Pawapuri Mandir in Bihar is a highly revered temple dedicated to Lord Mahavira in Bihar. (Photo courtesy: Pradip Jain)
Lord Mahaveera declared that religion is not such an existence that creates a rift among human beings. Rather, it is such a moral/philosophical system, which creates a bridge of compassion, not only between humans but among the entire living world, and brings them closer to each other. Thus, he championed non-violence over violence, truth over falsehood.
The 2550th Nirvan Mahotsav of Bhagwan Mahaveer is being celebrated as a festival, which is being organized as a year-long "Ahimsa Mahotsav". This occasion is not only for the people of the Jain community but for everyone who understands the importance of non-violence and wants to follow it in their lives.
The main objective of this festival is to make humanity understand the importance of Lord Mahaveera's messages by dedicating them to his life and his principles of non-violence and kindness. The festival is a storehouse of diversity despite a common objective and is playing an important role in spreading the principles of Lord Mahaveera. Through this, people are being reminded of a very important message — non-violence is the true power and we all should make it a part of our lives.
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(The writer is a well-known philatelist from India whose involvement in Indian and global philately stretches over many years. He won several Gold Medals in International Philately and has served three terms as a Governing Council member of the Philatelic Congress of India. He can be contacted at [email protected])
