Mahavira

Also known as Nirgrantha, Maha-ativeer, Vir, Mahavir Swami, Vardhaman Mahavir, Lord Mahavir

Mahavira (), also known by his birth name Vardhamana (), was an Indian religious reformer and spiritual leader, considered by Jains to be the 24th and final Tirthankara (Supreme Preacher) in the current time cycle of Jain cosmology. He is believed by historians to have lived in the 6th or 5th century BCE, reviving and reforming an earlier Jain or proto-Jain community which had likely been led by Pārśvanātha, whom Jains consider to be Mahavira's predecessor. Although the dates of Mahavira's life are uncertain and historically reliable information is scarce, and traditional accounts vary by sect

AI overview

Mahavira was an Indian spiritual leader who lived in the 6th or 5th century BCE and is revered by Jains as their 24th and final supreme teacher in their religious tradition. He is credited with reviving and reforming an earlier Jain community, making him a foundational figure in the development of Jainism as a major religious movement.

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Key facts

Religious biography.image: Mahavira sculpture.jpg
Religious biography.caption: An 11th century CE sculpture of Tirthankar Mahavira seated in meditation on a lion throne
Religious biography.other_names: Vira, Ativira, Sanmatinatha
Religious biography.father: Siddhārtha
Religious biography.mother: Triśalā
Religious biography.religion: Jainism (as Vardhamāna)
Religious biography.predecessor: Pārśvanātha
Religious biography.birth_date: (traditional)uncertain, possibly 6th or early 5th century BCE (historical)
Religious biography.birth_place: Kshatriyakund / KundagrāmaNāya Republic, Vajjika League (near present-day Vaishali, Bihar, India)
Religious biography.death_date: 527 BCE (Śvetāmbara trad. dating), 510 BCE (Digambara trad. dating)uncertain, possibly late 5th century BCE (historical) Pawapuri, Magadha, Haryanka Empire (present-day Nalanda district, Bihar, India)
Religious biography.birthname: Vardhamāna
Religious biography.dynasty: Nāya/Nātha
Religious biography.successor: Mahāpadma / Padmanābha (first Tirthankara of the ascending next half or Utsarpiṇī of time-cycle)
Religious biography.spouse: Yaśodā (Śvetāmbara) Unmarried (Digambara)
Religious biography.children: 1 (Śvetāmbara) none (Digambara)
Religious biography.disciples: Gautama SwamiSudharma Swami Agnibhūti Gautama Vāyubhūti Gautama Ārya Vyakta Svāmi Mandita Svāmi Mauryaputta Svāmi Akampita Svāmi Acalbhrātā Svāmi Metarya Svāmi Prabhāsa Svāmi
Religious biography.background: light grey

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Wikidata facts

Image: Mahavir.jpg
Height: 7

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Commons category: Mahavira
date of birth: 0540-00-00
date of death: 0468-00-00
name in native language: महावीर

Sources (10)

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Article

38 sections

Contents

Historical Mahavira
Dating
Traditional Jain-accounts
Scholarly datings
Role in Jainism
Jain-accounts: successor
Scholarly accounts: reformer
Birthplace
Life-course
Life according to Jain tradition
Sources
Tirthankaras
Previous births
Birth
Early life
Renunciation
Omniscience
Disciples
Nirvana and moksha
Teachings
Agamas
Five Vows
Soul
''Anekantavada''
Gender
Rebirth and realms of existence
Iconography and presentations
Names and epithets
Iconography
Temples
Worship
Festivals
Legacy
See also
Notes
References
Sources
External links

According to traditional legends and hagiographies, Mahavira was born in 599 BCE to a ruling royal kshatriya Jain family of the Nāya tribe in what is now Bihar in India. According to traditional sources like the Ācārāṅga Sūtra, the Nāyas were followers of Parshvanatha, Mahavira's predecessor. Mahavira abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of about 30 and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening, becoming an ascetic. Mahavira practiced intense meditation and severe austerities for twelve and a half years, after which he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). He preached for 30 years and attained moksha (liberation) when he died.