Mahavir Jayanti
National Holiday in India
Mahavir Jayanti is the most important religious holiday in Jainism.
The holiday usually occurs in either late March or early April on the Gregorian calendar.
Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara (24 great sages). He was born on the 13th day of the rising moon of Chaitra, in either 599 BC or 615 BC. The Digambar school of Jainism say that Lord Mahavira was born in the year 615 BC, but the Swetambaras believe that He was born in 599 BC. However, both sects believe that Mahavira was the son of Siddhartha and Trisala.
According to the legend, Devananda, wife of a Brahmin named Rishabhdeva, conceived him, but the gods transferred the embryo to the womb of Trisala.
According to Swetambara sect the expectant mother was believed to have seen 14 auspicious dreams. (According to Digambara sect it was 16 dreams). Astrologers interpreted these dreams and predicted that the child would be either an emperor or a Teerthankar.
(adapted from Wikipedia )
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