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BHAGWAN MAHAVIRA LIBERATION
At the request of king Hastipal Mahavir spent his last monsoon-stay at Pavapuri (Apapapuri at the age of 72 years. When about three and a half months passed he became aware that the end of his life is approaching. Ganadhar Gautam was overly attached with Mahavir. He may not be completely swept away by the sorrow of separation- thinking thus Mahavir directed him to go and enlighten Brahman Som Sharma.
On The fifteenth day of the dark half of the month of Kartik Mahavir was observing a two days fast. He sat in the Samavasaran and gave his last discourse, which became famous as Uttaradhyayan Sutra, Vipak Sutra, etc.
Just before the hour of midnight he shed all his remaining Karmas and attained Nirvana. For a few moments the whole world was enveloped in darkness. Gods dispelled the darkness with the help of gems and humans lit earthen lamps to have the last glimpse of their savior.
In memory of that day people celebrate the festival of lights or Dipawali.
Hearing about the Nirvana of Bhagwan Mahavir Swami, Ganadhar Gautam became sad and melancholic. But soon he came out of it and progressed on the path of purity with help of extreme detachment. Jumping the levels of spiritual purity he acquired omniscience the next morning.
Gods and human beings celebrated jointly the events of attainment of Nirvana by Mahavir and omniscience by Ganadhar Gautam. After the Nirvana of Mahavir the responsibility of heading the large religious order came to his fourth chief disciple Arya Sudharmaswami. After Arya Sudharmaswami the order was headed by his disciple Arya Jambuswami. After the Nirvana of Arya Jambuswami (406 Before Vikram) the tradition of omniscients became extinct from Bharat area for this descending cycle of time.
Samvasaran
Samavasaran (assembly Hall) is a place from where Tirthankars preach religious sermons to the people.
The Samavasaran is a three-layered circular structure with a sacred Ashok tree at its center. It is created for a Tirthankar’s sermon soon after he attains Keval-jnän .
The Samavasaran is either circular or square. There are three enclosures. The lowest one is made of silver, the middle one is made of gold, and the uppermost is made of precious stones like diamonds. The lower most enclosure serves as a parking ground for the conveyances of heavenly beings and human beings, the middle one is meant for animals, and the third and the uppermost for heavenly beings and human beings.
arranged by the heavenly beings or devas
The sermon is delivered to hundreds of animals and a vast throng of heavenly gods, ascetics and lay people.
During the sermon a Tirthankar always presided facing East but the Devas (heavenly gods) created three replicas of him facing other three directions, so that the assembly of heavenly beings, humans and animals could see and listen to a Tirthankar’s sermon in harmony. Tradition has it that once an Arihanta (Jina) attains Keval-jnän he gives sermons several times a day in the local language of the people, which was Ardha-Mägadhi Präkrit.
