A report on Jainism, Mahavira and Ahimsa

The hand symbolizes Ahiṃsā, the wheel dharmachakra, the resolve to halt saṃsāra (transmigration).

Statue of Mahavira meditating in the lotus position at Shri Mahavirji, Rajasthan, India.

Lord Mahavira, the torch-bearer of ahimsa

Classification of Saṃsāri Jīvas (transmigrating souls) in Jainism

Mahavira in Padmasana meditation posture

The 5th-century CE Tamil scholar Valluvar, in his Tirukkural, taught ahimsa and moral vegetarianism as personal virtues. The plaque in this statue of Valluvar at an animal sanctuary at Tiruvallur describes the Kural's teachings on ahimsa and non-killing, summing them up with the definition of veganism.

Lord Neminatha, Akota Bronzes (7th century)

Ancient kingdoms and cities of India at the time of Mahavira

Gandhi promoted the principle of Ahimsa by applying it to politics.

Jain miniature painting of 24 tirthankaras, Jaipur, c. 1850

The hand with a wheel on the palm symbolises the Jain Vow of Ahimsa. The word in the middle is Ahimsa. The wheel represents the dharmacakra which stands for the resolve to halt the cycle of reincarnation through relentless pursuit of truth and non-violence.

Jain temple painting explaining Anekantavada with Blind men and an elephant

The birth of Mahavira, from the Kalpa Sūtra (c.1375–1400 CE)

A Jain monk in meditation, wearing the characteristic white robe and face covering

Lord Mahavira's Jal Mandir (water temple) in Pawapuri, Bihar, India

Nishidhi stone, depicting the vow of sallekhana, 14th century, Karnataka

The "Charan Paduka" or foot impression of Mahavira at Jal Mandir

Praying at the feet of a statue of Bahubali

Folio from the Kalpa Sūtra, 15th century

Jain worship may include ritual offerings and recitals.

Celebrating Das Lakshana (Paryushana), Jain Center of America, New York City

Mahavira iconography is distinguished by a lion stamped (or carved) beneath his feet; a Shrivatsa is on his chest.

alt=See caption|Rock-cut sculpture of Mahavira in Samanar Hills, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

A symbol to represent the Jain community was chosen in 1975 as part of the commemoration of the 2,500th anniversary of Mahavira’s nirvana.

Rock-cut sculpture of Mahavira in Kalugumalai Jain Beds, 8th century

Rishabhdev, believed to have lived over 592.704×1018 years ago, is considered the traditional founder of Jainism.

alt=See caption|Tallest known image of the seated Mahavira, Patnaganj

The ruins of Gori Jain temples in Nagarparkar, Pakistan, a pilgrimage site before 1947.

alt=See caption|Four-sided sculpture of Mahavira in Kankali Tila, Mathura

alt=Two nude statues|Tirthankaras Rishabhanatha (left) and Mahavira, 11th century (British Museum)

alt=Mahavira, seated|Temple relief of Mahavira, 14th century (Seattle Asian Art Museum)

alt=See caption|Relief of Mahavira in Thirakoil, Tamil Nadu

16-foot, 2-inch stone statue of Mahavira in Ahinsa Sthal, Mehrauli, New Delhi{{sfn|Titze|1998|p=266}}|alt=Large outdoor statue of Mahavira, with a seated worshipper for scale

alt=See caption|Mahavira statue in Cave 32 of the Ellora Caves

Mahavira inside Ambapuram cave temple, 7th century

alt=Dharmachakra temple|Dharmachakra temple in Gajpanth

Saavira Kambada Basadi, Moodbidri, Karnataka

Mahavir Swami at Manilaxmi Tirth, Gujarat

Mahavira (Sanskrit: महावीर) also known as Vardhamana, was the 24th Tirthankara (supreme preacher) of Jainism.

- Mahavira

Jainism traces its spiritual ideas and history through the succession of twenty-four Tirthankaras (supreme preachers of Dharma), with the first in the current time cycle being Rishabhadeva, whom the tradition holds to have lived millions of years ago; the twenty-third tirthankara Parshvanatha, whom historians date to 9th century BCE; and the twenty-fourth tirthankara, Mahavira around 600 BCE.

- Jainism

It is a key virtue in the Dhārmic religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism.

- Ahimsa

Jain monks, after positioning themselves in the sublime state of soul consciousness, take five main vows: ahiṃsā (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (not stealing), brahmacharya (chastity), and aparigraha (non-possessiveness).

- Jainism

Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and the last tirthankara, further strengthened the idea in the 6th century BCE.

- Ahimsa

His ascetic teachings have a higher order of magnitude than those of Buddhism or Hinduism, and his emphasis on ahimsa (non-violence) is greater than that in other Indian religions.

- Mahavira

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Parshvanatha

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Parshvanatha was born in Varanasi, a historic city on the Ganges.

Parshvanatha and his yaksha, Dharanendra, in the 8th-century Tamil Nadu Kalugumalai Jain Beds

8th-century stone relief of Parshvanatha at Thirakoil

Parshvanatha with Padmavati and Dharnendra in a 16th-century manuscript

Parshvanatha iconography is identified by a sesha hood above his head and a cobra stamped (or carved) beneath his feet. At the center of his chest is a shrivatsa, which identifies Jain statues.

Parsvanatha ayagapata - Jina Parsvanatha, Mathura art, {{circa|15 CE}}.{{sfn|Quintanilla|2007|p=201}}{{sfn|Quintanilla|2007|p=406}}

alt=Stone relief|Uttar Pradesh, 2nd century (Museum of Oriental Art)

Parshvanath relief of Kahaum pillar, 5th century

alt=Lotus position|5th century (Satna, Madhya Pradesh)

alt=Lotus position|6th century, Uttar Pradesh

alt=Lotus position|7th-century Akota Bronze (Honolulu Museum of Art)

6th-7th century bronze statue in Asian Civilisations Museum

alt=Lotus position|10th-century copper, inlaid with silver and gemstones (LACMA)

alt=Lotus position|11th century, Maharaja Chhatrasal Museum

alt=Lotus position|Karnataka, 12th century (Art Institute of Chicago)

{{convert|61|ft}} colossal at Navagraha Jain Temple

alt=Outdoor standing statue|Vahelna statue

alt=Standing statue in niche|Parshvanatha basadi, Shravanabelgola

alt=Standing statue|Parshvanatha temple in Halebidu

Parshvanatha temple, Khajuraho, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Pattadakal Jain Temple, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Parshavanth temple, Jaisalmer Fort, UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of Hill Forts of Rajasthan

Parshvanatha basadi at Halebidu: tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site

alt=Godiji Parshwanath (Gori) Temple at Tharparkar - tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage|Godiji (Gori) Temple in Tharparkar - tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage

Parshvanatha, also known as Parshva and Parasnath, was the 23rd of 24 Tirthankaras (ford-makers or propagators of dharma) of Jainism.

The Jain sources place him between the 9th and 8th centuries BC whereas historians consider that he lived in the 8th or 7th century BC. Parshvanatha was born 273 years before Mahavira.

According to the Śvētāmbaras, Mahavira expanded Parshvanatha's first four restraints with his ideas on ahimsa (non-violence) and added the fifth monastic vow (celibacy).