Here are the main people connected with Bhagwan Mahavir’s life, kept very simple:

1. Parents & Family (Household life)

- Father: Raja Siddharth (also called Siddhartha) – ruler of the Vajji (Vaishali) region. - Mother: Rani Trishala – she saw 14 very auspicious dreams before his birth, indicating a future Tirthankar. - Elder Brother: Nandivardhan – after the parents passed away, he became king and requested Vardhaman to delay renunciation for 2 years. ( jainknowledge.com) - Clan: Jnātrik / Jnātṛ (Ikshvaku dynasty).

- Śvetāmbara tradition adds: - Wife: Yashoda - Daughter: Priyadarshana - Digambar tradition: - Says Mahavir observed lifelong brahmacharya (celibacy) and was not married.

1. People at the time of his Diksha (renunciation)

- At age 30, Vardhaman left home and became a monk. ( jainknowledge.com) - Place: Jnātkhand garden near Kshatriyakund (Kundalpur region). ( jainknowledge.com) - Emotionally, the main family person at that point was Nandivardhan, who earlier tried to keep him at home for two extra years.

1. Opponents / Contemporaries in spiritual field

- Goshalak (Makkhali Gosala) – often mentioned in Jain texts as a wandering ascetic who at one stage moved with Mahavir and later became a rival spiritual leader (Ajivika sect). - He is not a “disciple” of Mahavir; rather, a contemporary who later separated and opposed his path.

1. Main Ganadhars (chief disciples)

After Keval-jnan, many disciples gathered. The main 11 Ganadhars (chief monks) in Jain tradition are:

1. Indrabhuti Gautam (Gautam Swami) – chief disciple, very famous in stories; first to attain samyak darshan from Mahavir’s discourse. 2. Agni-bhuti 3. Vayu-bhuti 4. Vyasha (Vyashya) 5. Subahu 6. Mahashatru 7. Maitreya 8. Prabhasa 9. Shreyansa (or Shreyans) 10. Vishnu 11. Sudharma Swami – last surviving Ganadhar who preserved and passed on Mahavir’s teachings.

These Ganadhars organised the Jain Sangh and spread his message after listening to his Kevali‑vachan (teachings).

1. Other important followers (Shravaks & Shravikas)

Jain texts remember many lay followers from all sections of society, for example: ( jainknowledge.com)

- Kings / rulers: - Shrenik (Bimbisara) – king of Magadha, important royal devotee. - Ajatashatru – also linked as a royal follower in some accounts. - Householders from different professions: - Sadālputra – a potter. - Anand – a farmer. - Sulas – a butcher (showing even people with violent professions were guided to change and follow dharma).

These examples show that Mahavir’s path was open to all – kings, rich, poor, men, women, different castes and jobs.

1. Four-fold Sangh organised by Mahavir

The community he created is remembered as:

- Sadhus – Jain monks. - Sadhvis – Jain nuns. - Shravaks – male lay followers. - Shravikas – female lay followers.

All these groups include countless people who lived in his time and followed his guidance.

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If you want, you can next ask about any one group in detail, like only Ganadhars, only royal followers, or only family, and I can list their names and short stories in very simple points.