Life of Mahavir
Diwali: Mahavir's Nirvana
दीवाली: महावीर निर्वाण · દિવાળી: મહાવીર નિર્વાણ
Why Jains light their lamps on the darkest night of the year
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
In his seventy second year, Mahavir comes to Pavapuri and gives his last and longest teaching. On the new moon night that follows, the people light lamps, and at dawn a new light shines.
What it teaches Liberation Letting go Light of knowledge Festivals
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, when Bhagwan Mahavir was very old, he came to a peaceful town called Pavapuri. Many people gathered to hear him, and even kings came from faraway lands.
Mahavir talked to them for a very long time, all day and all night. He told them stories about being kind, being truthful, and doing good things. Everyone listened quietly.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Every small lamp we light can remind us of the light inside every soul.
To talk about together
What does your family do on Diwali night, and what might each lamp help us remember?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.