Vardhamana Mahavira (599 BC-517 BC) was the twenty-fourth and the last Jain Tirthankara. He laid great emphasis on non-violence, truth and purity in life. He was born in 599 BC at Kundgram near Vaishali. His father’s name was Siddhartha and mother’s name was Trishla. Vardhamana married to Yashodhra and had a daughter, Priyadarshini. He had a family life upto the age of 30 and thereafter, left his home in search of supreme truth. After 12 years of wandering, at the age of 42, he attained enlightenment under a Sal tree. Mahavira taught that a man can save his soul from contamination of matter, by living a life of extreme ascetism, self-discipline and by practicing non-violence towards all living creatures. He also laid great emphasis on vegetarianism and the acceptance of five great vows of renunciation. Mahavira attained ‘nirvana’ in 527 BC at Pava in Bihar.
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