Life of Mahavir
Mahavir's Birth and the Bathing on Meru
महावीर जन्म और मेरु पर्वत पर अभिषेक · મહાવીર જન્મ અને મેરુ પર્વત પર અભિષેક
The night the gods came to welcome a baby, and a tiny toe shook a mountain
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
On the night Vardhaman is born, goddesses and gods come from every direction to celebrate. On the golden mountain Meru, the king of the gods has a doubt that a newborn baby gently answers.
What it teaches Celebration Humility Devotion
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago, on a happy spring night, a baby boy was born to Queen Trishala and King Siddharth. His name would be Vardhaman. When he was born, a soft light shone everywhere, and every creature felt peaceful for a moment.
Kind goddesses came from every direction to welcome him. Some brought flowers. Some held up lamps. Some waved fans, and some sang sweet songs. They bathed the baby gently and said, May you live long and happy.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
True strength is quiet: it does not need to shout to be known.
To talk about together
Why do you think the baby answered Indra's doubt with a gentle toe instead of with a cry?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.