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On the night of Diwali, Jain pilgrims gather at Pawapuri in Nalanda district, where a white marble temple stands in the middle of a lotus-filled tank — the Jal Mandir. Tradition holds that Mahavira, the twenty-fourth tirthankara of Jainism, attained nirvana (liberation) here. Like the Buddha, Mahavira lived and taught in the Magadhan world of the sixth–fifth centuries BCE, and Bihar holds many of the places associated with his life.
Mahavira's life
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Vardhamana; later called Mahavira ("great hero") and Jina ("conqueror") — hence "Jain" |
| Birth | Kundagrama, near Vaishali (Bihar) |
| Clan | Jnatrika clan of the Vajji confederacy |
| Parents | Siddhartha (father) and Trishala (mother), a Lichchhavi princess |
| Family | According to the Shvetambara tradition, married Yashoda and had a daughter; the Digambara tradition holds that he did not marry |
| Renunciation | At about 30 |
| Austerities | About 12 years of intense asceticism |
| Enlightenment (kaivalya) | Near the village of Jrimbhikagrama, on the bank of the river Rijupalika, under a sal tree |
| Teaching | About 30 years, travelling across Magadha, Anga, Videha and neighbouring regions |
| Nirvana | At Pawapuri (Pava), at about 72 |
The tirthankaras
Jains believe in 24 tirthankaras ("ford-makers" who guide souls across the stream of rebirth).
- Rishabhanatha (Adinatha) — the first.
- Parshvanatha — the 23rd; historically regarded as a real figure who lived before Mahavira, and associated with Sammed Shikhar (Parasnath hill, now in Jharkhand).
- Mahavira — the 24th.
Mahavira is thus seen by Jains not as the founder but as the last reformer of an older tradition.
The teachings
The three jewels (triratna)
- Right faith (samyak darshana)
- Right knowledge (samyak jnana)
- Right conduct (samyak charitra)
The five vows
| Vow | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ahimsa | Non-violence towards all living beings |
| Satya | Truthfulness |
| Asteya | Non-stealing |
| Aparigraha | Non-possession |
| Brahmacharya | Celibacy / chastity — added by Mahavira to the four vows of Parshvanatha |
Monks and nuns follow these as mahavratas (great vows); lay people follow them in a lighter form as anuvratas.
Other key ideas
- Anekantavada — reality is many-sided; no single perspective captures the whole truth.
- Syadvada — the doctrine of "maybe"; statements are true from particular standpoints.
- Karma is a subtle matter that binds the soul (jiva); liberation comes through removing it by right conduct and austerity.
- Rejection of the authority of the Vedas and of animal sacrifice.
- Strict non-violence, which led Jains towards trade and commerce rather than agriculture.
Digambara and Shvetambara
| Digambara | Shvetambara |
|---|---|
| "Sky-clad" — monks do not wear clothes | "White-clad" — monks and nuns wear white |
| Women cannot attain liberation without rebirth as men | Women can attain liberation |
| Mahavira did not marry | Mahavira married |
Tradition links the split to a famine in Magadha during the Mauryan period, when Bhadrabahu led a group of monks to the south (to Shravanabelagola, with Chandragupta Maurya, according to Jain tradition), while Sthulabhadra remained in Magadha.
Jain councils
| Council | Place | Presided by | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| First | Pataliputra (c. third century BCE) | Sthulabhadra | Compilation of the twelve Angas |
| Second | Vallabhi (Gujarat, c. fifth century CE) | Devardhi Kshamashramana | Final compilation of the canon |
Royal patrons
- Bimbisara and Ajatashatru are claimed by both Jain and Buddhist traditions.
- Chandragupta Maurya — according to Jain tradition, became a Jain monk and died at Shravanabelagola.
- Kharavela of Kalinga (first century BCE) — a great patron of Jainism.
Jain sites in Bihar
| Site | Significance |
|---|---|
| Pawapuri (Nalanda) | Place of Mahavira's nirvana; Jal Mandir |
| Vaishali (Kundagrama) | Birthplace (traditional) |
| Rajgir | Mahavira spent many rainy seasons here; Jain temples on the hills |
| Champa (Bhagalpur) | Associated with the 12th tirthankara, Vasupujya |
Jainism and Buddhism compared
| Aspect | Jainism | Buddhism |
|---|---|---|
| Founder / reformer | Mahavira (24th tirthankara) | Gautama Buddha |
| Path | Strict austerity | Middle Path |
| Soul | Belief in the soul (jiva) | No permanent self (anatta) |
| Non-violence | Extremely strict | Important, but less extreme |
| Language of early texts | Ardhamagadhi Prakrit | Pali |
| Spread | Mostly within India | Across Asia |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Where was Mahavira born, and in which clan?
- Where did Mahavira attain nirvana?
- Which vow did Mahavira add to Parshvanatha's teachings?
- Where was the First Jain Council held?
- What is anekantavada?
Mains-style:
- Compare the teachings of Jainism and Buddhism.
- "Jainism's emphasis on non-violence and many-sided truth remains relevant today." Discuss.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Bihar Public Service Commission website .
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