Mahavira

Rock cut sculpture depicting Mahavira at Samanar Hills, Keezhakuyilkudi, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

Mahavira (599 BCE - 527 BCE), also known as 'Vardhaman', was the 24th Jain Tirthankara (teacher of dharma). He was born in 599 BCE in Kshatriyakund, near Vaishali in Bihar, India. He revived the Jain Dharma given by the previous 23 Tirthankaras. He gave five kinds of teachings: teachings on Non-violence (Ahimsa), Truthfulness (Satya), Non-stealing (Asteya), Control of the senses (Brahmacharya), and Non-possessiveness (Aparigraha). Mahavira taught that ahimsa (non-violence) is the highest virtue. Mahavira passed away in 527 BCE in Pawapuri, in present-day Bihar, India. He was not the founder of the Jain religion, because there were 23 other Tirthankaras before him. After Mahavira, Jainism gradually spread to Orissa, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Images

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  Four sided sculpture depicting Mahavira (found during excavation at Kankali Tila, Mathura)

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  Sculpture depicting Tirthankara Rishabhanatha (left) and Mahavira (right), British Museum

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  13 ft. 6 inches high single stone statue of Lord Mahavira at Ahinsa Sthal, New Delhi

Mahavira Media

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  The Gaṇasaṅghas (tribal republics) at the time of Mahavira

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  Painting of Mahavira among the Six Heretical Teachers in Kizil Caves, Xinjiang, China, 4th century CE

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  Folio from the Kalpa Sūtra, 15th century

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  Lord Mahavir attaining omniscience in shukla dhyana, the highest and purest level of meditation

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  [Top illustration] Mahavira attains kevala jñāna (complete knowledge); [Bottom] a samosarana (divine preaching hall). Folio 60 from Kalpasutra series, loose leaf manuscript, Patan, Gujarat. c. 1472.

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  Lord Mahavira's Jal Mandir (water temple) in Pawapuri, Bihar, India

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  The "Charan Paduka" or foot impression of Mahavira at Jal Mandir

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  The swastika and five vows