Panch Kalyanaka

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Panch Kalyanaka (Sanskrit: पंच कल्याणक) (literally means Five Auspicious Events) are considered the five chief auspicious events in the life of a Jain Tirthankara.^[1][2][3] They are commemorated as part of many Jain rituals and festivals.^[4]

Kalyanaka

These auspicious life events are as below:^[3][4][5][6]

1. Chyavana Kalyanaka (Sanskrit: च्यवन कल्याणक): When soul of a Tirthankara comes into his mother's womb.^[7]
2. Janma Kalyanaka (Sanskrit: जन्म कल्याणक): Birth of Tirthankara.^[2][7] Snatra Puja is a ritual celebrating this event in which Indra does an Abhisheka on the Tirthankara on Mount Meru.^[8]
3. Diksha Kalyanaka (Sanskrit: दीक्षा कल्याणक): It is an event on which a Tirthankara renounce all worldly possessions and become ascetic.^[9]
4. Keval Gyan Kalyanaka (Sanskrit: कैवल ज्ञान कल्याणक): The event when a Tirthankara attains Keval Gyan (absolute knowledge). Samavasarana (divine preaching hall) is erected from where he delivers sermons and restores Jain Sangha after that.^[10]
5. Nirvana Kalyanaka (Sanskrit: निर्वाण कल्याणक): When a Tirthankara leaves his mortal body, it is known as Nirvana. It is followed by final liberation, Moksha. He is considered Siddha after that.^[11][12]

Kalyanaka Dates of 24 Tirthankara

These dates are called Kalyanak Tithi. All dates are considered according to Jain calendar known as Jain Panchang based on Vira Nirvana Samvat but they differ according to different sects of Jain tradition and sometimes different within the same tradition also.^{[13][14][15][16]}

^{s[›] d[›] o[›]}

Note: This list is according to Svetambara tradition and months are per Gujarati calendar.

Keys

• Dates are in short format. For example Kartik Sud 2 means Second day of Bright half(Sud) of Kartik month.

• ^ s: according to Svetambara tradition
  
• ^ d: according to Digambara tradition
  
• ^ o: according to other sources
  

Kalyanaka Places of 24 Tirthankara

Kalyanaka Bhumi are places where any of these Kalyanaka took place in relation to 24 Tirthankara. They are considered places of pilgrimage by Jains.^[5] 20 out of 24 Tirthankaras' Nirvana kalyanaka took place at Shikharji.^[12]

They are as below:^{[12][17][18][19][20]}

Rituals

Some rituals have close relationshhip with these five Kalyanakas.

Panch kalyanak pratishtha and Anjana Shalaka

When a new Jain Temple is erected, these Five Auspicious Life Events are celebrated known as Panch Kalyanak Pratishtha Mahotsava. It is followed by Anjana Shalaka, a ceremony to install new Tirthankara icon. An Acharya recite mantras related to Panch Kalyanaka followed by applying special paste to eyes of Tirthankara image. After these an icons of Tirthankara gets a status of real Tirthankara which can be worshipped by Jains. Acharya have to fast for three days before that.^[2]

Panch kalyanak puja

This ritual solemnizes all five Kalyanaka. It was narrated by Pandit Virvijay.

Snatra puja

Snatra Puja is a ritual related to Janma Kalyanaka in which icons of Tirthankara are bathed symbolising Indra doing Abhisheka on Tirthankara on Mount Meru after birth of Tirthankara. It performed before many other rituals and before starting of new enterprises, birthdays.^[8]

Festivals

Many rituals mark Kalyanaka of Tirthankara especially Janma and Nirvana Kalyanaka.

Mahavir Jayanti

It marks Janma Kalyanak (birth) of 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira. Abhisheka of icons are done on this day and procession celebrating this event takes place in the cities. It is on 13th day of bright half of Chaitra month of Jain calendar (March/April).^[8]

Diwali

Diwali is a day of Nirvana Kalyanaka of 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira. He attained Moksha on this day in 527 BCE. It falls on fifteenth day of dark half of Ashwin (Aaso) month (September/October) which is also a last day of a year.^[8]

Pausha Dashmi

It is celebrated on 10th day of dark half of Pausha (Pushya) month of Hindu calendar(December/January). It marks Janma kalyanaka (birth) of 23rd Tirthankara, Parshvanath. Three days fast is observed by many Jains.

Maun Agiyaras

Maun Agiyaras or Ekadashi marks Kalyanaka of many Tirthankaras. It is celebrated on 11th day of Magshar month of Jain calendar (October/November). On this day, complete silence is observed and fasting is kept. Meditation is also performed.^[8]

See also

• Jain rituals and festivals

• Nirvana

• Tirthankara

• Jainism

References