Mahavira, also known as
Vardhamana, was the twenty-fourth and last
tirthankara. In
Jainism, a
tirthankara (maker of the river crossing) is an
omniscient teacher who preaches the
dharma (righteous path) and builds a ford across the ocean of rebirth and transmigration. Twenty-four tirthankara grace each half of the
cosmic time cycle. Mahavira was the last tirthankara of
avasarpani (present descending phase). Mahavira was born into a royal family in what is now
Bihar,
India. At the age of 30, he left his home in pursuit of spiritual awakening. He abandoned all the worldly things including his clothes and became a
Jain monk. For the next twelve and a half years, he practiced intense meditation and severe penance, after which he became
omniscient. He traveled all over
South Asia for the next thirty years to teach
Jain philosophy. Mahavira died at the age of 72 and attained
nirvana (final release) or
moksha (liberation from the cycle of birth and death). Mahavira's philosophy has eight cardinal (law of trust) principles, three metaphysical (
dravya,
jiva and
ajiva), and five ethical. The objective is to elevate the quality of life.
