ISBN : 81-7508-320-4 

Vol. No : 594 

Mahavira was born in Kundagram near Vaishali in Bihar to King Siddhartha and his wife, Trishala, in 599 BC. Prince Vardhamana, as he was named, was destined to become great. After years of contemplation on life and the ultimate truth, he renounced the world and became an ascetic at the age of 30. For 12 long years he practiced deep meditation, silence and compassion, leading a life of austerity and penance. At the end of this period, he achieved enlightenment – full knowledge or kevala gyana – and went on to become the 24th Jain Tirthankara (one who finds enlightenment and shows the way to others).Bhagwan Mahavira, however, was neither a pioneer of Jainism nor its last Tirthankara. Jain tradition believes that there have been many Tirthankaras before Mahavira, and there will be several in the future. Mahavira himself said that his religious teachings – based on the Jain principles of ahimsa, karma and nirvana - had been propounded by many Jinas (one who has conquered) in the past, and will be taught by many Jinas in the future.