What is meant by Panch Kalyanak?

 

Jains celebrate five major events in the life of a tirthankar. They are called Kalyanak (auspicious events).

1.       Chyavana Kalyanak – This is the event when the tirthankar’s soul departs from the transient stage (after death from the last life on earth and before the next birth) and is conceived in the mother’s womb.

2.       Janma Kalyanak – An event when the tirthankar is born.

3.       Diksha Kalyanak – After giving up all the worldly possessions, the would be tirthankar obtains Diksha from a Guru and becomes a monk.

4.       Kevaljnan Kalyanak – After destroying the four ghati karmas, the monk attains kevaljnan or absolute knowledge. Four ghati karmas are Jnanavarniya karma, Darshanavarniya karma, Mohniya karma and Antaraya karma.

5.       Nirvana kalyanak – This happens when the soul is liberated from the body of a tirthankar after completing his worldly existence and becomes a siddha. The soul of a tirthankar becomes free of bondages and attains salvation, which is the state of eternal bliss.

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