Jain · 8 November 2026
Mahavir Nirvan Kalyanak
महावीर निर्वाण कल्याणक
Mahavir attained nirvana at Pavapuri on the night of Diwali; the lamps stand for the light of knowledge.
Why it is celebrated
On Kartik Amavasya in 527 BCE Bhagwan Mahavir attained moksha at Pavapuri in Bihar. For Jains, Diwali is the day of his nirvana.
The story behind it
After his final sermon — the Uttaradhyayana Sutra, given over two days without pause — Mahavir left his body at dawn at Pavapuri. The eighteen kings gathered there said that as the light of knowledge had gone, they would light lamps of the material world instead — and so lamps were lit. Jains offer the nirvan laddoo in the morning and many fast for two days (chhath).
How to celebrate
- Offer the nirvan laddoo at the temple in the morning
- Light lamps and recite the Uttaradhyayana Sutra or the Mahavir stuti
- Keep a fast, as Mahavir did in his last days
- Visit Pavapuri’s Jal Mandir if you can
More from this calendar
Mahavir Janma Kalyanak (Mahavir Jayanti)Paryushan MahaparvaSamvatsariDas Lakshan ParvaKshamavaniJain New Year · Gautam Swami Keval GyanGyan PanchamiKartik Purnima (Jain)Maun EkadashiRishabhdev (Adinath)Akshaya Tritiya (Jain) · Varshitap ParnaMahavir Keval Gyan KalyanakShrut PanchamiChaturmasAyambil OliVeer Shasan JayantiParshvanath Janma KalyanakMeru TrayodashiParva tithi (Ashtami and Chaudas)
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