Jain dharma (Jainism) is considered an eternal, universal path rather than a new religion that started at a single point in history. Its essence is said to have always existed and to be revealed by enlightened beings called Tirthankaras in successive cosmic cycles.

Key points in simple terms:

• Eternal dharma: Jainism is described as sanatana dharma — a timeless code of conduct and truth that governs how jivas (souls) live in harmony with ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), anekantavada (many-sided truth), and other Jain principles.
• Tirthankaras: In each cosmic cycle, a succession of enlightened teachers (Tirthankaras) revives and reorganizes this path for humanity. There are 24 Tirthankaras in each cycle. The first is Rishabhanatha (Adinath); the last is Mahavira, who is considered the 24th Tirthankara in this cycle.
• Mahavira and the Jain canon: Mahavira is widely regarded as the last Tirthankara of this cycle. His life and teachings, along with those of earlier Tirthankaras, form the basis of Jain practices and ethics. Over time, different Jain communities (notably Digambaras and Śvetāmbaras) have preserved and interpreted these teachings in slightly different ways.
• The path taught: The Jain path emphasizes purifying the soul through right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct. Core vows include non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possessiveness, applied with strict discipline depending on one’s path (monastic or lay follower).
• Scriptures and tradition: The teachings were traditionally passed down through a lineage of gurus and later codified in Jain scriptures and commentaries. The two main sects—Digambaras and Śvetāmbaras—have different views on scriptures, monastic practices, and the status of certain texts, but both roots trace back to the same Tirthankara-driven framework.

In short: Jain dharma did not begin at a single historical moment; it is presented as an eternal path revived by Tirthankaras in each cosmic era, with Mahavira being the most recent Tirthankara who helped articulate and preserve its core code for present times.