Jainism originated in ancient India. It is one of the oldest religions in the world, with roots going back to the Indus Valley Civilization (around 3rd millennium BCE). According to Jain tradition, the teachings of Jainism have been revealed by a succession of 24 Tirthankaras, the last of whom was Lord Mahavira (599–527 BCE). Lord Mahavira was born in Kundagrama, near Vaishali in present-day Bihar, India. Thus, the birth and development of Jainism are closely associated with the Indian subcontinent, especially regions of modern-day Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.