Indian Philosophy and Aesthetics

According to the passage, What is Mahavira’s philosophy based on?

Directions:  Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the twenty-fourth and last guru of the Jain religion. He was born into a royal family in what is currently the state of Bihar, India. The town of his birth at the time when he was born was markedly prosperous in terms of agriculture, health, wealth and wisdom. It is for this reason that he was named Vardhman by his parents. When he was 30 years old, he left his home in search of spiritual awakening and spent over 12 years practising intense meditation and severe penance. After this period, he achieved enlightenment. He then travelled all over India for the next 30 years, teaching his philosophy, which is based on the concepts of ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha. He is said to have attained nirvana at the age of 72. He is considered to be the 24th Tirthankara (guru) of Jainism and is regarded as a reformer, rather than a founder of this religion.
While it is unknown exactly that where Mahavira was born, 3 distinct places in Bihar have been identified as possible birthplaces. These include Kundigram in Vaishali district, Lachhuar in Jamui and Kundalpur in Nalanda. Most historians will agree that Basokund was his birthplace, but traditionally, it is considered to be Kundalagrama, which is an ancient city of Vaishali, whose location continues to remain unidentified. According to Jainism, Mahavira was born in the year 540 BCE, which has prompted many historians to consider him to be a contemporary of Gautama Bhudda. According to Jainism, his birth is ascribed to be on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chairtra in the Vira Nivana Samvat calendar, which falls in either March or April according to the Gregorian calendar. Mahavira was born into the royal family of King Siddartha of Kudraam and Queen Trishala, whose brother was King Chetaka of Vaishali. In his childhood, he was called Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”. He was named this because of the increased prosperity that was experienced in the kingdom at the time of his birth. Both of his parents are said to be strict followers of Parsva.

Both parents of Mahavira were strict followers of

Directions:  Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the twenty-fourth and last guru of the Jain religion. He was born into a royal family in what is currently the state of Bihar, India. The town of his birth at the time when he was born was markedly prosperous in terms of agriculture, health, wealth and wisdom. It is for this reason that he was named Vardhman by his parents. When he was 30 years old, he left his home in search of spiritual awakening and spent over 12 years practising intense meditation and severe penance. After this period, he achieved enlightenment. He then travelled all over India for the next 30 years, teaching his philosophy, which is based on the concepts of ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha. He is said to have attained nirvana at the age of 72. He is considered to be the 24th Tirthankara (guru) of Jainism and is regarded as a reformer, rather than a founder of this religion.
While it is unknown exactly that where Mahavira was born, 3 distinct places in Bihar have been identified as possible birthplaces. These include Kundigram in Vaishali district, Lachhuar in Jamui and Kundalpur in Nalanda. Most historians will agree that Basokund was his birthplace, but traditionally, it is considered to be Kundalagrama, which is an ancient city of Vaishali, whose location continues to remain unidentified. According to Jainism, Mahavira was born in the year 540 BCE, which has prompted many historians to consider him to be a contemporary of Gautama Bhudda. According to Jainism, his birth is ascribed to be on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chairtra in the Vira Nivana Samvat calendar, which falls in either March or April according to the Gregorian calendar. Mahavira was born into the royal family of King Siddartha of Kudraam and Queen Trishala, whose brother was King Chetaka of Vaishali. In his childhood, he was called Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”. He was named this because of the increased prosperity that was experienced in the kingdom at the time of his birth. Both of his parents are said to be strict followers of Parsva.

What did Mahavira do to attain enlightenment?

Directions:  Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the twenty-fourth and last guru of the Jain religion. He was born into a royal family in what is currently the state of Bihar, India. The town of his birth at the time when he was born was markedly prosperous in terms of agriculture, health, wealth and wisdom. It is for this reason that he was named Vardhman by his parents. When he was 30 years old, he left his home in search of spiritual awakening and spent over 12 years practising intense meditation and severe penance. After this period, he achieved enlightenment. He then travelled all over India for the next 30 years, teaching his philosophy, which is based on the concepts of ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha. He is said to have attained nirvana at the age of 72. He is considered to be the 24th Tirthankara (guru) of Jainism and is regarded as a reformer, rather than a founder of this religion.
While it is unknown exactly that where Mahavira was born, 3 distinct places in Bihar have been identified as possible birthplaces. These include Kundigram in Vaishali district, Lachhuar in Jamui and Kundalpur in Nalanda. Most historians will agree that Basokund was his birthplace, but traditionally, it is considered to be Kundalagrama, which is an ancient city of Vaishali, whose location continues to remain unidentified. According to Jainism, Mahavira was born in the year 540 BCE, which has prompted many historians to consider him to be a contemporary of Gautama Bhudda. According to Jainism, his birth is ascribed to be on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chairtra in the Vira Nivana Samvat calendar, which falls in either March or April according to the Gregorian calendar. Mahavira was born into the royal family of King Siddartha of Kudraam and Queen Trishala, whose brother was King Chetaka of Vaishali. In his childhood, he was called Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”. He was named this because of the increased prosperity that was experienced in the kingdom at the time of his birth. Both of his parents are said to be strict followers of Parsva.

What is the meaning of 'Vardhaman'?

Directions:  Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the twenty-fourth and last guru of the Jain religion. He was born into a royal family in what is currently the state of Bihar, India. The town of his birth at the time when he was born was markedly prosperous in terms of agriculture, health, wealth and wisdom. It is for this reason that he was named Vardhman by his parents. When he was 30 years old, he left his home in search of spiritual awakening and spent over 12 years practising intense meditation and severe penance. After this period, he achieved enlightenment. He then travelled all over India for the next 30 years, teaching his philosophy, which is based on the concepts of ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and aparigraha. He is said to have attained nirvana at the age of 72. He is considered to be the 24th Tirthankara (guru) of Jainism and is regarded as a reformer, rather than a founder of this religion.
While it is unknown exactly that where Mahavira was born, 3 distinct places in Bihar have been identified as possible birthplaces. These include Kundigram in Vaishali district, Lachhuar in Jamui and Kundalpur in Nalanda. Most historians will agree that Basokund was his birthplace, but traditionally, it is considered to be Kundalagrama, which is an ancient city of Vaishali, whose location continues to remain unidentified. According to Jainism, Mahavira was born in the year 540 BCE, which has prompted many historians to consider him to be a contemporary of Gautama Bhudda. According to Jainism, his birth is ascribed to be on the thirteenth day of the rising moon of Chairtra in the Vira Nivana Samvat calendar, which falls in either March or April according to the Gregorian calendar. Mahavira was born into the royal family of King Siddartha of Kudraam and Queen Trishala, whose brother was King Chetaka of Vaishali. In his childhood, he was called Vardhamana, which means “one who grows”. He was named this because of the increased prosperity that was experienced in the kingdom at the time of his birth. Both of his parents are said to be strict followers of Parsva.