- Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th tirthankara of the Jain tradition
- He was born at Kundagrama near Vaishali to Kshatriya parents Siddharta and Trisala
- He married Yasoda and gave birth to a daughter
- At the age of thirty years, he became an ascetic and wandered for twelve years
- In the 13th year of his presence, he attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kevala Jnana. Thereafter, he was called Mahavira and Jina
- His followers were called Jains and the religion Jainism. He preached his doctrines for 30 years and died at the age of 72 at Pava near Rajgriha