According to Jain Dharma, the correct answer is:

1. Jainism is beginningless (anādi)

- Jainism does not have a human “founder” or a particular starting date. - The true Dharma (right faith, right knowledge, right conduct) is considered eternal. - It appears and disappears in cycles of time, but it never truly “starts” or “ends”.

1. In the present time-cycle (avasarpini)

- The first Tirthankar of this half-cycle is Bhagwan Rishabhdev (Ādināth). - He is regarded as the one who re-established Jain Dharma in this current descending time-cycle and taught humans how to live in a civilized way and follow the path to liberation.

1. About historical dates (from a modern history view)

- Modern historians usually talk about Parshvanath Bhagwan (23rd Tirthankar, around 9th–8th century BCE) and Mahavir Bhagwan (24th Tirthankar, around 6th century BCE) as historical figures. - But in Jain tradition, the religion itself is much, much older and not limited to these dates.

So, from a Jain point of view:

• Jainism did not “originate” at a particular time.
• It is an eternal Dharma, periodically re-taught by the 24 Tirthankars of each time-cycle, starting with Rishabhdev Bhagwan in our current cycle.