Mahaparinirvan Divas is observed on December 6 every year to mark the death anniversary of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar. The social reformer, economist, thinker, politician, and the first Law Minister of Independent India, Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar breathed his last while in his sleep and is paid tribute to on this day, regarded as the Mahaparinirvan Diwas.
What is Parinirvan?
Parinirvan is one of the chief principles and goals of Buddhism. The Sanskrit term (written in Pali as parinibbana) means “nirvana after death”, which refers to the achievement of nirvana after the body dies.
According to Buddhism, our life’s karma is carried on to the next through our soul or spirit after the body’s death. While the physical body disintegrates, we are reborn in our next life with a karmic debt from the previous one. Once you achieve nirvana, this cycle of rebirth stops, because no karmic debt remains.
Nirvana is very difficult to attain, and it suggests that one has lived a pure and blessed life. Lord Buddha’s death at the age of 80 years is known as the original Mahaparinirvan according to the Buddhist text, Mahaparinibbana Sutta, written in Pali.
Dr Ambedkar passed away on December 6, 1956, at his home in Delhi just a few days after completing his last work, The Buddha and His Dhamma. Ambedkar, who had finally converted to Buddhism after studying the religion for years on October 14, 1956, in Nagpur–along with 5,00,000 supporters–was considered to be a Buddhist leader by his followers, especially after his passing.
Because of his stature and contributions to the eradication of untouchability in India, he was considered to be a Buddhist guru. His followers and supporters believe that Ambedkar was as influential, pure, and blessed as Lord Buddha. And this is the reason Ambedkar’s death anniversary is referred to as Mahaparinirvan Divas.
