http://jain.net.in Ahinsa Parmo Dharam Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:04:52 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Origin of Paryushan Its origin is related to the staying of the monks in one place for the rainy season. "Paryushanaa" is staying of the monks in one place. In popular terminology this stay is termed "chaturmasa" because the rainy season is regarded to be about four months. However the minimum ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/06/jain-festival-paryushana/ In Jainism, Mahavir Jayanti is the most important religious holiday. It celebrates of the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara. He was born on the 13th day of the rising moon of Chaitra, in either 599 BC or 615 BC (depending on religious tradition). The holiday occurs in late March or ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/06/mahavir-jayanti/ The Mahamasthakabhisheka (or Mahamasthak Abhishek) is an important Jain festival held once every twelve years in the town of Shravanabelagola in Karnataka state, India. The festival is held in veneration of an immense 18 meter high statue of the Bhagwan (or Saint) Gomateshwara Bahubali. The anointing last took place in ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/06/jain-festival-mahamasthak-abhishek/ Kshamavani or "Forgiveness Day" is a day of forgiving and seeking forgiveness for the followers of Jainism. It is celebrated on the 14th day of the holy month of Bhadrapad. "Micchami Dukadam" is the common phrase when asking for forgiveness. On this sacred day, every member of the Jain community approaches ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/06/jain-festival-kshamavaani/ Lord Mahavira, the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana on this day at Pavapuri. According to Jain tradition the chief disciple of Mahavira, Ganadhar Gautam Swami also attained complete knowledge (Kevalgyana) on this very day, thus making Diwali a really special occasion for the Jains to celebrate. Replica of Pava ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/06/diwali-in-jainism/ The rituals are interwoven with the daily life of a pious Jain. Spreading the grain for the birds in the morning, filtering or boiling the water for the next few hours' use are ritual acts of charity and non-violence. It must be said that there is a narrow dividing line between ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/06/jain-rituals-of-every-day/ Paryusana Parva The Paryusana Parva is the most important festival for the Jains. This is the eight-day period during which many Jains fast and carry out the religious activities. This period falls in the months of Sravana and Bhadra (August or September). During the rainy season in India Jain monks stop ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/06/festivals-of-jains/ There are many Jain tirthas (pilgrimage sites) throughout India. * Shikharji, also known as Parshvanathji or Sammet Sikhar and located in Giridih district in Jharkhand state, is considered the most sacred pilgrimage site. Parshvanath Hill is about 4481 feet high, and twenty Tirthankars attained Nirvan here.GoogleEarthLocation * Shravanabelagola, a monumental statue of ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/06/list-of-jain-temples-holy-sites-of-jains/ Archaeological evidence such as various seals and other artifacts from the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 3000–1500 BC) has been cited by some scholars as attesting to the faith's roots in Proto-Indo-Iranian India, before the split of Iranians and Indo-Aryans. Decipherment of Brahmi by James Prinsep in 1788 enabled the reading of ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/01/jainism-and-indian-archaeology/ While the Jains are only 0.4% of the Indian population, their contributions to culture and society in India are considerable. Jainism has influenced Gujarat most significantly. The earliest known Gujarati text, Bharat-Bahubali Ras, was written by a Jain monk. Some of the most important people in Gujarat's Jain history were ... http://jain.net.in/2007/03/01/jain-contributions-to-indian-culture/