Vardhamana Mahavira
- Believed to have lived between (540-468 BCE)
- He was born at Kundagrama near Vaishali.
- Mahavira was a Kshatriya, son of Siddhartha (the head of Jantrika clan) and Trishala.
- At the age of 30, he became an ascetic and left his home in search of truth.
- After 13 years of penance, he attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kaivalya Jnana. He attained this at Jrimbhikgrama village under a sal tree at the age of 42.
- Since the attainment of Kaivalya, he has been called Mahavira, Jina, Jitendriya (one who conquered his senses), Nigrantha (free from all bonds), and Kevalin.
- He died at the age of 72 at a place called Pava, near Rajagriha.
Key Points of Jainism
- The Jain tradition has a succession of teachers called Tirthankaras. There are a total of 24 Tirthankaras associated with Jainism.
- The first Tirthankara is believed to be Rishabhanatha. The last Tirthankara is believed to be Vardhaman Mahavira.
- It is believed that all Tirthankaras were Kshatriyas by birth.
Main Teachings of Jainism
- Jainism rejects the idea of a creator of the world as well as the authority of the Vedas.
- Jainism believes that humans may be good or bad according to their actions and not on account of their birth.
- They believe in karma and the transmigration of the soul.
- Salvation or nirvana comes from getting rid of the cycle of birth and rebirth and can be attained by leading a pure life guided by the three-fold path of right faith, right knowledge and right conduct.
- Right to conduct involves– abstinence from lying and stealing, non-possession, ahimsa, and control of the senses.
- The teachings of the Tirthankaras were compiled in 12 angas which were written down at Vallabhi in the 5th century CE.
Jain Councils
| Jain Council | Place | Preside |
| First Council | Pataliputra | Sthulabahu |
| Second Council | Vallabhi | Devardhigani (Angas were compiled during this time) |
Subsects of Jainism
- Digambara
- Liberation to be achieved through complete renunciation of worldly possessions and asceticism.
- Preached that women couldn’t achieve liberation.
- Do not wear any clothes.
- According to them, Tirthankara Mallinath is believed to be a man.
- Svetambara
- Svetambaras has accepted liberation.
- Wear white clothes.
- Shwetambar Mallinath has been accepted as Mallikumari.
- Svetambaras accept women as part of sanga.