Mahavira

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Mahavira

- Mahavira ( Sanskrit , m., महावीर, mahāvīra , lit. "great hero") is considered by many to be the founder of the Indian religion Jainism , which arose around the same time as Buddhism . The doctrine of Jainism exists in India to this day; outside of the subcontinent, however - contrary to the teachings of the Buddha - it was never able to gain a significant foothold. According to the Jainist tradition, Mahavira is the last of the 24 tirthankaras ('ford preparer'); its predecessor was the semi-mythological parshvanata .

Scholars like Karl Potter consider his biography uncertain; Some suggest that it was in the 5th century BC. Lived at the same time as the Buddha . Mahavira's teachings were compiled by Indrabhuti Gautama (his main disciple) as Jain Agamas . It is believed that the orally by Jain monks sent texts in the 1st century (when they were written first) have been largely lost. The versions of the agamas taught by Mahavira are some of the basic texts of Jainism.

Mahavira is usually depicted in a sitting or standing meditative posture, including the symbol of a lion. Its earliest iconography comes from archaeological sites in the north Indian city of Mathura and dates back to the 1st century BC. Until the 2nd century after Christ. His birth is celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti, and his nirvana is observed by Jains as Diwali .

Besides this Mahavira there are also other bearers of this name, both among the Jainas and among the Hindus .

Lore

According to traditional tradition, Mahavira is said to be in 599 BC. In Kundapura , a suburb of the city of Vaishali (today: Besarh, north of Patna ), born and 527 BC. Died in Pavapuri . The exact dates are disputed; modern research rather assumes a lifetime of about 497 BC. BC to 425 BC Chr. His real name was Vardhamana (lit. "the lucky one"), he belonged to the Kshatriya caste of the Jnata. Born as a prince, he decided - similar to the way of life of the Buddha , whose contemporary he is said to have been - to an ascetic life. At this point he must have been around 30 years old; he was already married to Yasodha and had a daughter with her. After two years of mortification, he decided to take off all clothing and wander around as a naked ascetic. This wandering life lasted twelve years and the texts depict the adverse weather conditions and the hostility of the people in lively colors. After 12 years he attained omniscience (equivalent to Buddha's enlightenment) under a willow tree. Since then he has carried the honorable names Jina ('the victorious') and Mahavira ('the great hero'). Years of tireless teaching followed, during which he preached through the country, from Rajagriha to Kaushambi . He founded an order for monks and nuns and won numerous lay followers. He was particularly successful in aristocratic circles. The kings of Magadha , Bimbisara and his son Ajatasattu , were his patrons and patrons.

According to tradition, after 38 years of teaching, he went into nirvana at the age of 72 . According to legend, he transferred the leadership of the community to eleven students under the direction of Gautama Indrabhuti . In the first century AD, the young religious community experienced a division in dogmatic terms.

Teaching

Mahavira's philosophy is based on eight cardinal (law of trust), three metaphysical ( Dravya , Jiva and Ajiva ) and five ethical principles and aims to improve the quality of life. Mahavira led his life according to the five great vows of renunciation (vratas) inaugurated by him , which are still the standard for every Jaina in life - whether as an ascetic or as a father of a family:

  • Ahimsa (nonviolence towards all living things). Mahavira taught that besides oneself, all other living beings radiate holiness and have dignity that must be respected. In simple terms, every living being should be treated with maximum friendliness.
  • Satya (truthfulness, renouncing lies / one-sided views). Observance of this vow leads to harmony in a community. Uprightness should dominate speech and others should be given the right to own property. Everyone should be true to themselves in thoughts, words and deeds in order to be able to build a feeling of trust in the community.
  • Asteya (not stealing). Only things that are lawfully given should be accepted.
  • Brahmacharya (chastity; for non-clerics: abstaining from sex outside of marriage). The importance here is on constant and determined restraint of sensual pleasure.
  • Aparigraha (lack of possessions; for non-clerics: renunciation of unnecessary possessions). Non-attachment to internal dispositions (likes and dislikes) and external achievements.

Above all, Mahavira attached great importance to unconditional Ahimsa (non-harming of living beings) and Vairagya (inner letting go, abstinence). These emphases are also significant for Buddhism and have certainly influenced the later writings and masters of yoga . Both Buddhism and Jainism seek to show a practical path to salvation. While the Buddha only conditionally approved of self-mortification, for Mahavira it played a major role in the dissolution of past karmas. The lifestyle of a Jain is still subject to greater restrictions, for example with regard to eating regulations.

Mahavira also taught that the pursuit of pleasure is like an endless game and that therefore individual desires and passions should be controlled by the mind. Only in this way can equanimity, mental equilibrium and spiritual balance arise. Unnecessary enrichment of material goods and possessions should be avoided, since only then can social justice be realized with a fair distribution of services in a community. The powerful and rich should not further oppress the weak and poor by further accumulating endless possessions. This only leads to an unjust distribution of wealth and ultimately to poverty. However, trying to enforce the five vows through external legal authorities can only lead to hypocrisy or hidden criminal tendencies. Therefore every single member of a community should exercise restraint in themselves in order to move towards social peace, security and an enlightened society.

Web links

Commons : Mahavira  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Single receipts

  1. ↑ http://www.jainworld.com/literature/jainhistory/chapter4.asp
  2. ↑ K. Armstrong: The Axial Age . Munich, 2006
  3. ↑ Mircea Eliade and Ioan P. Culianu: The Jainism. In: "Handbook of Religions". Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt am Main 1995, p. 328
  4. ↑ Mircea Eliade and Ioan P. Culianu, op.cit, p. 330
  5. ↑ KENeumann: The speeches of the Buddha "Middle Collection" . 5th edition. Beyerlein - Steinschulte, Herrnschrot 1995, ISBN 3-931095-00-2 , p. 777 ff .
  6. ^ Digha Nikaya 25. In: www.palikanon.com. Retrieved June 11, 2016 .

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