Bhagwan Mahaveer

April 21, 2024

A commemorative postage stamp on Bhagwan Mahavira 2550^th Nirvan Kalyanak :

Issued by India

Issued on Apr 21, 2024

Issued for : Department of Posts is proud to release a Commemorative Postage Stamp on the 2550^th Nirvan Kalyanak of Bhagwan Mahaveer, honoring his lasting legacy of non-violence, equality, and truth.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Brochure : Sh. Brahm Prakash
Cancellation Cachet : Smt. Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 201600

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

Name : Vardhaman

Born on 599 BCE at Vaishali (Vajji Sangha) at Kundgram, Nalanda district, Bihar, India

Died on 527 BCE at Pavapuri, Magadha, Haryanka Empire [now in Nalanda district, Bihar, India]

About :

Bhagwan Mahaveer was the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankar of the Jain religion of this era.
Bhagwan Mahaveer, born as Vardhaman, was the son of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala. He was born on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chaitra month, 599 B.C. in the rich environment of Vaishali (Vajji Sangha) at Kundgram in Bihar, India.
Due to his special qualities, he was addressed by five names – Vardhaman, Veer, Ativeer, Mahaveer and Sanmati. He has been deeply interested in renunciation since his childhood. He renounced his royal life and left his home at the young age of 30. He left behind his royal clothing under a “Ashoka tree”, at a place called ‘Khandvan’ and became a Digambara saint.
Bhagwan Mahaveer attained Kaivalya (enlightenment) at the age of 42, under a Sal tree, on the banks of the Rijupalika River near Jurmbhikgram after performing a rigorous penance for 12 years as a dedicated shraman. After attaining enlightenment, Bhagwan Mahaveer chose Vipulachala, near Rajagriha, for his first sermon. Here, he spoke in Prakrit, the people’s language, sparking a social revolution. Indrabhuti Gautam, foremost among his 11 Gandharas, became a tireless propagator, spreading his message far and wide.
Bhagwan Mahaveer didn’t represent a personality of prohibitions, rather he became a bright bundle of positive acceptances. He inspired the people to know the real truth and let it manifest freely in all dimensions of life. He said that man is known not by his/her birth but by the deeds. Describing the nature of an object as religion, Bhagwan Mahaveer emphasized on its adoption through forgiveness, contentment, simplicity and softness. True religion, he believed, was like a radiant lamp, which can dispel all darkness from its path.
2550 Years ago, Bhagwan Mahaveer declared that religion is not such an existence which creates a rift among human beings. Rather, it is such a moral/philosophical system, which creates a bridge of compassion not only between humans, but also among the entire living worlds and brings them closer to each other. Thus, he championed non-violence over violence, truth over falsehood. Through Anekant and Syadvad, he advocated respecting diverse viewpoints, dismantling injustice and solidifying the path to justice.
He evolved the doctrine “Live and let live”. According to him, only the one, who wants to live, can create constructive conditions of coexistence for his/her neighbourhood, city-locality and country-world through a positive living. Mahaveer’s concept of Living was indicative of the fact that living is an art, and it lies in self-discipline and self-discovery. His concept of living contains new possibilities of co-existence.
Tirthankar Mahaveer expanded the inheritance of the Shramana tradition, which came from the Lord Rishabhdev. Mahaveer’s entire life was dedicated to the search for truth and equity; Samyaktva of knowledge and also of the character. He performed intense experiments of meditation to experience the essence of the purity of his soul. He was a man of experiment and practised the religion of truth. He explained the practice of separating Pudgal and Jiva; conscious and unconscious.
Championing equality, Bhagwan Mahaveer shattered societal hierarchies. He declared that all souls, regardless of position, are inherently equal. There are no superiors or inferiors, no masters or slaves and no distinction between men and women. Both genders deserve the same social and cultural standing. He took a revolutionary step by dismantling the shackles that confined women within traditional customs, paving the way for their liberation. While advocating for celibacy, he emphasized it as a principle that could empower women, not restrict them. Ultimately, his teachings aimed to dismantle discrimination and awaken a sense of true equality within society.
Bhagwan Mahaveer gave a new expansion to the philosophy of non-violence and said that it is necessary not to harm anyone through thought, word and deed and prohibited every type of violence. Non-violence was described as the supreme religion and the giver of happiness and peace. To attain this, he underlined the necessity of following celibacy along with truth, non-stealing and non-attachment. Apart from this, he emphasized on having a feeling of compassion towards every living being and attaining the ultimate feeling of happiness from one’s soul. Calling for victory over oneself, he asserted the principle of live and let live. He propounded the multi-dimensional existence of truth and introduced the principle of Anekant for non-violent resolution of conflicts and suggested the technique of its revelation to the public with Syadvad.
Bhagwan Mahaveer believed that freeing the soul from bondage required conquering anger and embracing knowledge that illuminates truth and calms the restless mind. His teachings, known as Sarvodaya Tirtha, transcended all boundaries – region, time, caste or social status. Ultimately, his concept of religion focused on achieving soul purity. He viewed all souls with compassion, recognizing their inherent equality. This principle formed the core of his message: “treat others with the same kindness and respect you desire for yourself”.
2549 years ago, at the age of 72, Bhagwan Mahaveer attained Nirvana on Kartik Krishna Chaturdashi in Pawapuri (Bihar). This marked the culmination of his life’s journey, a transition from a revered teacher to a Siddha – a perfect, liberated soul. Jains celebrate this auspicious night as Diwali, lighting lamps to symbolize the illumination and liberation he achieved. Diwali, the last day of the Jain calendar, becomes a radiant testament to his enduring legacy.
Text : Referenced from content provided by Proponent.