You may want to consider minister training and get ordained through the ULC if you are interested in a variety of spiritual traditions, and the important role these traditions play in people’s lives. Minster training through the ULC will give you a broad background in the roles in which ministers can serve within the context of a diversity of spiritual faiths. Many ministers are called to minister during important events in people’s lives, such as birth, marriage and death. Additionally, ministers are called on to help celebrate religious festivals and holidays.
In Jainism, the most significant holidays all year is the holiday of Mahavir Jayanti. This holiday celebrates the birth of Mahavir Janma Kalyanak. He was born in 599 BCE on the 13th of the pink, rising moon of Chaitra. Mahavir is considered to be the twenty-fourth and final Tirthankara of the lineage of Tirthankaras in Jainism. In Jainism, a Tirthankaras is considered to be an enlightened human being who can help other individual souls achieve oneness with the Divine by helping them to destroy the negative tendencies that keep them from seeing the light of God and living in perpetual, permanent knowledge of Brahman or the Absolute.
If you would like to get ordained through the ULC through the minister training program as a universal life minister who presides over Jain ceremonies, you will be interested to know some biographical information about Mahavira. Mahavira’s parents were Queen Trishala and King Siddhartha. He was born into a life of wealth and abundance, according to the royal status of his family. Mahavira’s mother, Trishala was said to have had many auspicious dreams prior to giving birth to Mahavira. Even the astrologers found indications that her son would become a great leader, such as an emperor or a Tirthankar. According to Jain history, Indra, the God-King, bathed Mahavira in a celestial bath of milk and honey when he was born. This was further indication of the child’s sacred destiny to become the 24th Tirthankar.
It is even said that while Mahavira was in his mother’s womb, he brought great wealth and prosperity to his entire kingdom. All good and bountiful things increased, including an abundance of blooming flowers. This was another indication that a great saint was about to be born. The birth of Mahavira is celebrated each year by Jains throughout the world by giving statues of Mahavira ceremonial milk baths called abhisheks. Prayers and lectures elucidating the path of virtue are also held in Mahavira’s honor in Jain temples throughout the world. Donations are offered by Jains in order to help feed those who are hungry as well as financially support a number of charitable programs.
