Discuss the life and teaching of mahavira 

Life of the Mahavira

Mahavira was the twenty fourth and the last tirthankara of Jainism. His teachings increased the popularity of Jainism and thus he is considered as founder of the religion.

• He was born in Kundagrama near Vaishali in Bihar in the second half of the sixth century. While his father belonged to a Kshatriya clan, his mother belonged to a royal family of the Lichchavis.
• From childhood, he was absorbed in spiritual pursuits. In order to divert his attention from spirituality, he was married to a princess, Yashoda. However, at the age of thirty, he renounced the world and practiced severe penance for next twelve years.
• He is then said to have attained supreme knowledge. He was credited to have conquered his desires and thus came to be known as ‘Jina’ or the conqueror. His followers thus came to be known as Jinas or the Jains.
• He gave his first sermon at Mount Vipul located in Rajgriha, the then capital of Magadha. The number of his followers began to increase.
• He preached at various places like Avanti, Videha, Vaishali, Champa, Mithila, Kosala and Anga