Vardhamana Mahavira (Mahavir) is the 24th Tirthankara in Jainism. Here are the key points about his life and meditation:

• Renunciation: He left his royal palace at the age of 30 to seek spiritual awakening.
• Years of austerity: He undertook intense penance and deep meditation for 12 years.
• Enlightenment: After those 12 years of ascetic discipline, he attained kevala jnana (omniscience) at the age of 42.
• Meaning: His meditation and ascetic practices during those years culminated in emancipation and the teaching of Jain path to others.

Note: In Jain tradition, kevala jnana is described as the supreme attainment achieved through unwavering meditation, self-discipline, and right conduct. Different Jain traditions (Digambara and Śvetāmbara) may differ in minor details of the biographical narratives, but the core timeline—renunciation at 30, enlightenment at 42—remains widely accepted.