Bhagwan Mahaveer & Diwali All the Jains celebrate the festival of Diwali with joy. Diwali is celebrated on the new-moon day of Kartik. On the night of that day, Bhagwan Mahavira attained Nirvan or deliverance and a state of absolute bliss. The Lord discarded the body and the bondage of all Karmas on that night, at Pawapuri In Uttara-puraana written by Acharya GunBhadra (7th or 8th century) it is mentioned that in the month of Kartika, krashna paksha, svati nakshatra and on the night of the 14th (dawn of the amavasya), lord Mahavira became a Siddha (attained nirvana). Bhagwan Mahavira, the 24th Jain Tirthankaras, attained Nirvana on this day at Pavapuri on Chaturdashi of Kartika: - | || Diwali festival was first time mentioned in Harivansha Purana written by Acharya Jinasena, and composed in the Shaka Samvat era in the year 705. Acharya Jinasena mentions that Bhagavan Mahavira, attained nirvana at Pavapuri in the month of Kartika, Krashna paksh, during swati nakshatra, at the time of dawn. In Harivamsha-Purana sloka 19 and in sloka 20 he writes that the gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Jinendra on the occasion of his nirvana. , | , || ( ) Tatastuh lokah prativarsham-aadarat Prasiddha-deepalikaya-aatra bharate, Samudyatah poojayitum jineshvaram Jinendra-nirvana vibhuti-bhaktibhak. It means, the gods illuminated Pavanagari by lamps to mark the occasion. Since that time, the people of Bharat celebrate the famous festival of "Dipalika" to worship the Lord Mahavira on the occasion of his nirvana. An ancient mention of Lord Mahavira's nirvana and lightening of lamps occurs in Kalpasutra of BhadraBahu, v. 123, "When Lord Mahavira came to Madhyam Pava for his last varshavas, it was the fourth month of the rainy season, seventh paksha, and krashna of kartik. It was then the last day of krashna of kartik. That night Lord Mahavira attained nirvana." Kalpasutra mentions that due to the presense of gods, the night was illuminated. It further says "that on the amavasya night, 16 gana-kings, 9 Malla and 9 Lichchhavi, of Kasi and Kosal, illuminted their doors. They said: "The light of knowledge is gone, we will make light of ordinary matter". Bhagavan Mahavira discarded the body and the bondage of all Karmas on that night of Diwali, at Pavapuri and attained Mukti or deliverance. Thus we have been celebrating Diwali with lights sine the nirvana of Lord Mahavira. It is celebrated with a special worship the next morning. In the early morning after the day of Diwali, Ganadhar Gautam Swami, the first disciple of Lord Mahavira attained absolute enlightenment. This could be another probable cause for celebrating the Diwali as the festivals of lights. Vira Nirvana Samvat: The Jain year starts with Pratipada following Diwali. Vira Nirvana Samvat 2538 starts with Diwali on October 27, 2011. Bhagwan Mahaveer & Diwali Bhagwan Mahaveer Nirvan Sthali Paavapuri Bhagwan Mahaveer Diwali Pravachan औ .