NET, IAS, State-SET (KSET, WBSET, MPSET, etc.), GATE, CUET, Olympiads etc.: Jainism

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  • Jainism founded by Rishabha.
  • There were 24 Tirthankaras (Prophets or Gurus) , all Kshatriyas. First was Rishabhnath (Emblem: Bull) .
  • The 23rd Tirthankar Parshwanath (Emblem: Snake) was the son of King Ashvasena of Banaras.
  • The 24th and the last Tirthankar was Vardhman Mahavira (Emblem: Lion) . He was born in kundagram (Distt Muzaffarpur, Bihar) in 599 BC.
  • His father Siddhartha was the head of Jnatrika clan.
  • His mother was Trishla, sister of Lichchavi Prince Chetak of Vaishali.
  • Mahavira was related to Bimbisara.
  • Married to Yashoda, had a daughter named Priyadarsena, whose husband Jamali became his first disciple.
  • At 30, after the death of his parents, he became an ascetic.
  • In the 13th year of his asceticism (on the 10th of Vaishakha) , outside the town of Jrimbhikgrama, he attained supreme knowledge (kaivalya) .
  • From now on he was called Jaina or Jitendriya and Mahavira, and his followers were named Jains. He also got the title of Arihant, i.e. … worthy.
  • At the age of 72, he attained death at Pava, near Patna, in 527 BC.
  • Mahavira preached almost the same message as Parshvanath and added one more, Brahmcharya (celibacy) to it.