* 599 BC – Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism ( d. 527 BC )

* Mahavira ( 599 – 527 BCE ) — heavily influenced Jainism, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.

The 24th, and last Tirthankar is Mahavira, who lived from 599 to 527 BCE.

Mahavira ( Vardhamana ) was the last ( 24th ) Tirthankara to attain enlightenment.

Indian discussion of reincarnation enters the historical record from about the 6th century BCE, with the development of the Advaita Vedanta tradition in the early Upanishads ( around the middle of the first millennium BCE ), Gautama Buddha ( 623-543 BCE ) as well as Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.

* Mahavira of Vaishali, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism ( possibly 599 BC – 527 BC )

Mahavira ( 599-527 BC ), the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, developed an early philosophy regarding relativism and subjectivism known as Anekantavada.

* The first convert of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism was Indrabhuti ( aka Gautamswami ) the Brahmin, who headed a group of other Brahmins and converted them to Jainism.

The 24th and most recent Tirthankar, Lord Mahavira, lived in c. 6th century BC, in a period of cultural revolution all over the world.

Asaga wrote Vardhaman Charitra ( Life of Vardhman Mahavir ), an epic which runs in 18 cantos, in 853 CE, the first Sanskrit language biography of 24th and last Thirthankara of Jainism, Mahavira, though his Kannada language version of Kalidasa's epic poem, Kumārasambhava, Karnataka Kumarasambhava Kavya is lost.

Parsva ( 23rd Tirthankara in 9th century BCE ) and Mahavira, ( 24th Tirthankara in 6th century BCE ), known as the fordmakers of Jainism lived during this age.

The 24th and last Tīrthaṅkara was Mahavira ( 599-527 BC ).

According to Jain traditions, it was on this day, falling at the beginning of chaturmas, the four month rainy season retreat, Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara, after attaining Kaivalya, made Indrabhuti Gautam, later known as Gautam Swami, a Ganadhara, his first disciple, thus becoming a Guru himself, therefore it is observed in Jainism as Guru Purnima, and is marked special veneration to one's Gurus and teachers.

The city is also associated with the travels of Lord Buddha's contemporary Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.

Gosala is believed to have been a friend of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.

The meditation undertaken by Siddhartha Gautama founder of Buddhism and Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, earned Mahavira the exalted state of Moksha.

A Buddhist text, the Majjhima Nikaya mentions Buddha as a Kosalan and Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism taught in Kosala.

Detail of a leaf with, The Birth of Mahavira ( the 24th Jain Tirthankara ), from the Kalpa Sutra, c. 1375-1400.

This similarity is not accidental, since Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, preached in the same area ( Magadha ) as Gautama Buddha.

Kuśināra and Pava are very important in the history of Buddhism and Jainism since Buddha and Lord Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara took their last meals at Kushinara and Pava / Pavapuri respectively.

According to the old Jain book Acaranga Sutra, the last ( 24th ) great Tirthankara Mahavira had wandered through this land, referred to as the " pathless country of Ladha in Vajjabhumi and Subbhabhumi ( probably Suhma )" in the 5th century, B. C.

Vaishali, a center of religious renaissance, Baso Kund, the birthplace of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism and a contemporary of Gautama Buddha, continue to attract visitors from across the international borders.

According to the Jain tradition, he attained nirvana 250 years before the nirvana of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankar.

Manek states that Sungazing is the key to his health, citing the Jainist Tirthankara Mahavira, ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Native Americans as his inspiration.

On the night of that day, Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, attained Nirvana or deliverance and attained liberation from the bondage of all karmas.

* 599 BC — Vardhamana Mahavira, last Tirthankara of Jainism, is born.

Most of the austerities and ascetic practices can be traced back to Vardhaman Mahavira, the twenty-fourth " fordmaker " or Tirthankara.

Jain texts discuss 26 births of Mahavira prior to his incarnation as a Tirthankara.

It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara.

Most of the austerities and ascetic practices can be traced back to Vardhaman Mahavira, the twenty-fourth " fordmaker " or Tirthankara.

King Siddartha was the father of the Tirthankara Mahavira and the ruler of the kingdom of Kundagrama in what is present-day Bihar, India.

* Mahavir Swami, dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankara, Mahavira.

Dharma also refers to the teachings and doctrines of the founders of Buddhism and Jainism, the Buddha and Mahavira.

Jainism was established by a lineage of 24 enlightened beings culminating with Parsva ( 9th century BCE ) and Mahavira ( 6th century BCE ).

Sculpture representing two founders of Jainism: left, Rishabha ( Jain tirthankar ) | Rishabha first of the 24 tirthankara s ; right Mahavira, the last of those 24, who consolidated and reformed the religious and philosophical system.

In the 6th century BC, Vardhamana Mahavira became one of the most influential Jainism teachers.

The Buddhists have always maintained that during the time of Buddha and Mahavira ( who, according to the Pali canon, were contemporaries ), Jainism was already an ancient, deeply entrenched faith and culture there.

Compassion for all life, human and nonhuman, is central to Buddhism, which was founded by Siddhattha Gotama ; and also Jainism, which was founded by Mahavira 599 – 527 BC.

* Ancient India: The Buddha and Mahavira found Buddhism and Jainism

Jainism existed before Mahavira, and his teachings were based on those of his predecessors.

However, Mahavira did reorganize the philosophical tenets of Jainism to correspond to his times.

Jainism came into formal being after Mahavira synthesized philosophies and promulgations of the ancient Sramana philosophy, during the period around 550 BC, in the region that is present day Bihar in northern India.

Gautama Buddha in the 6th or 5th century BC was the founder of Buddhism, which later spread to East Asia and South-East Asia, while Mahavira revived and propagated the ancient religion of Jainism.

Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, believed that the only way to be released from the cycle of life ( birth, death, and then rebirth ), one must follow, like Buddhists, ahimsa and not harm any living creature ( Regenstein 1991, p. 229 ).