Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, is the 24th Tirthankara in Jainism. He is regarded as the supreme teacher who revitalized and organized Jain principles for the welfare of all beings.

Key points:

• Birth and life: Born in Kundagrama (modern-day a village near Vaisali) to King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala. His early name was Vardhamana. He renounced worldly life at age 30 and spent 12 years as an ascetic before attaining Kewal Jnana (omniscience).
• Enlightenment and mission: After intense meditation and self-discipline, he achieved kevala jnana (absolute, intuitive knowledge) and became a Tirthankara, guiding others on the path to liberation.
• Core teachings:

- Ahimsa (non-violence) in thought, word, and deed. - Satya (truth). - Achaurya/astaya (non-stealing). - Brahmacharya (celibacy or self-control). - Aparigraha (non-attachment to possessions). - An irreverent stance toward violence, caste, or external rituals; emphasis on personal spiritual effort. - Anekantavada (many-sided reality) and Syadvada (the doctrine of conditional predication) as a way to understand truth from multiple perspectives.

• Sacred texts and tradition: His teachings were compiled as Jain scriptures (Agamas) by his followers. There are differences in the Digambara and Śvetāmbara traditions about authorship and arrangement of these teachings, but both revere Mahavira as the last Tirthankara who made the path to liberation accessible to all beings.
• Moksha and legacy: Mahavira attained Nirvana at Pavapuri in ancient Magadha and is honored in Jain temples and festivals. Mahavir Jayanti, his birth anniversary, is celebrated with devotion and spiritual gatherings in many Jain communities.

If you’d like, I can share:

• A concise artha (meaning) of a specific Mahavira teaching or hymn.
• Key verses associated with Mahavira in Jain scriptures (noting any differences between Digambara and Śvetāmbara interpretations).
• A short meditation or ethical practice inspired by Mahavira’s vows.