Knowra Mahavira Mahavira Mahavira was the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the present Jain time cycle and a central teacher of Jainism. Jain tradition associates him with teachings on nonviolence, restraint, and liberation.
Tirthankara : In Jainism, a spiritual teacher who conquers rebirth and shows others the path to liberation. Mahavira is revered as the twenty-fourth Tirthankara of the present time cycle.
Jain vows : Ethical commitments in Jainism that regulate harm, truthfulness, property, sexuality, and attachment. Mahavira’s discipline is expressed through vows adapted to monastics and householders.
Kundagrama : An ancient settlement traditionally identified as Mahavira’s birthplace, near present-day Vaishali in Bihar. Jain biographies place Mahavira’s birth in this settlement.
Indrabhuti Gautama : A chief disciple of Mahavira in Jain tradition, also called Gautama Swami. Jain accounts portray him as Mahavira’s foremost disciple and a key transmitter of teachings.
Mahavir Jayanti : A Jain festival commemorating the birth of Mahavira, observed with worship, processions, and charitable acts. The festival makes Mahavira’s birth a recurring focus of Jain devotion.
Jainism : An Indian religion whose central principles include nonviolence, ascetic discipline, and liberation from rebirth. Mahavira’s teachings are foundational to this religious tradition.
Aparigraha : Non-possessiveness, the restraint of attachment to possessions and worldly claims. Mahavira’s ascetic ideal treats attachment as an obstacle to release from karma.
Vardhamana : The personal name traditionally given to Mahavira before his renunciation and spiritual career. Mahavira is also known by this name in accounts of his early life.
Sudharma : A disciple of Mahavira regarded in Jain tradition as the sole surviving leader after his death. Jain monastic lineages trace the preservation of Mahavira’s teachings through Sudharma.
Jain vegetarianism : A dietary practice shaped by Jain nonviolence, avoiding meat and often other foods that risk harming life. Mahavira’s emphasis on minimizing harm informs Jain dietary ethics.
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