A report on Mahavira, Jainism and Kevala jnana

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

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

Mahavira in Padmasana meditation posture

Classification of Saṃsāri Jīvas (transmigrating souls) in Jainism

Ancient kingdoms and cities of India at the time of Mahavira

Lord Neminatha, Akota Bronzes (7th century)

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

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

Jain temple painting explaining Anekantavada with Blind men and an elephant

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

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

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

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

Folio from the Kalpa Sūtra, 15th century

Praying at the feet of a statue of Bahubali

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Kevala gyana (केवल ज्ञान) or Keval gyan means omniscience in Jainism and is roughly translated as complete understanding or supreme wisdom.

- Kevala jnana

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

Mahavira practiced intense meditation and severe austerities for twelve and a half years, after which he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience).

- Mahavira

According to both traditions, the last kevalin was a disciple of one of the eleven chief disciples of the last tirthankara, Mahāvīra; his name is recorded as Jambuswami.

- Kevala jnana

Some Jain texts add analogy (upamana) as the fourth reliable means, in a manner similar to epistemological theories found in other Indian religions.In Jainism, jnāna (knowledge) is said to be of five kinds – mati jñāna (sensory knowledge), śrutu jñāna (scriptural knowledge), avadhi jñāna (clairvoyance), manah prayāya Jñāna (telepathy) and kevala jnana (omniscience).

- Jainism

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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.

Parshvanatha meditated for 84 days before he attained omniscience under a dhaataki tree near Benares.

Tirthankara

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Tirthankara images at Siddhachal Caves inside Gwalior Fort.

Auspicious dreams seen by a tirthankara's mother during pregnancy

Samavasarana of Tirthankara Rishabha (Ajmer Jain temple)

Tirthankars of present, previous and next cosmic ages (72 in total)

Jain chaumukha sculpture at LACMA, 6th century

In Jainism, a Tirthankara (Sanskrit: ; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the dharma (righteous path).

After understanding the true nature of the self or soul, the Tīrthaṅkara attains Kevala Jnana (omniscience).

The 24th and last tirthankara of the present half-cycle was Mahavira Swami Ji (599 BC–527 BC).

Mahāvīra did not use the word anekāntavada, but his teachings contain the seeds of the concept (painting from Rajasthan, ca. 1900)

Anekantavada

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Gandhi used the Jain concept of Anekantavada to explain his views.

(अनेकान्तवाद, "many-sidedness") is the Jain doctrine about metaphysical truths that emerged in ancient India.

This knowledge (Kevala Jnana), it adds, is comprehended only by the Arihants.

The origins of anekāntavāda can be traced back to the teachings of Mahāvīra (599–527 BCE), the 24th Jain.