Jainism began in ancient India as a spiritual path revealed through a succession of 24 Tirthankaras. The tradition holds that the first Tirthankara was Rishabhanatha (also called Adinatha) and that the last, Mahavira (Vardhamana), lived around 599–527 BCE. Mahavira’s teachings and the Jain community (sampradaya) helped crystallize Jain doctrine, ethics, and practices. The historical center of early Jain activity is generally associated with the eastern Indian regions such as present-day Bihar and nearby areas.

Notes:

• There are two main traditions within Jainism today: Digambar and Shwetambar. They share the same core teachings but differ on certain scriptures, practices, and historical interpretations.
• Because Jainism unfolds across many centuries and multiple Tirthankaras, there isn’t a single founding date or a single geographic origin; it’s a gradual reveal of dharma through successive Tirthankaras in ancient India.