In Jain tradition, Mahavira did not “discover” Jainism as a new path in the way one might speak of an awakening story. He is regarded as the 24th Tirthankara, meaning he revived and fully revealed the eternal Jain Dharma in this era.

A simple way to understand it:

• Jain Dharma is considered eternal — it is not created by one person.
• Tirthankaras appear from time to time to rediscover, purify, and re-establish the path of liberation.
• Mahavira, after deep tapasya and complete detachment, attained kevalajnana (absolute knowledge).
• After that, he taught the path of right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct.

So, if you are asking whether there was a dramatic “event” that led him to become enlightened, the Jain view is:

• He was not an ordinary seeker who stumbled upon Jainism.
• He was a Tirthankara who, through spiritual practice, attained omniscience and then preached the Jain path.

His life did include important stages such as:

• renunciation of worldly life,
• long and severe austerities,
• attainment of kevalajnana,
• and then preaching for the welfare of all beings.

So the answer is: yes, there was a spiritual journey and transformation, but not a “discovery” of Jainism as a new religion; rather, Mahavira realized and revealed the eternal Jain path.