Jain dharm ki “sthapna” ya ek nishchit din par nirman ki baat aisi nahi hai ki use kisi ek vyakti ne kar diya ho. Jain dharm anadi hai, yaani shuru se chalta aa raha dharm mana jata hai. Iska vyavaharik roop 24 Tirthankaron ke dwara samaaj ko margdarshan dene ki parampara se bana hai.

Mukhya baat yeh hai:

• Jain dharm ki sthapna ek lambe samay ki prakriya thi; isse ek din ya ishtehar me koi vyakti kshetra mein sthapit nahi kiya.
• 24 Tirthankaron ki kramik kranti ke roop mein dharm ki sanraksha aur vyavahar ki samvedana bani rahi.
• Aaj ke Digambar aur Shwetambar sampradayon dono maante hain ki Mahavira (24th Tirthankar) ke samay tak Jain dharm ki adarsh aur vyavahar ko ek aadhar mil gaya tha, parantu iski anadi svabhav ya uske aadharit gyan ki parampara purani hai.
• Mahavira ka itihas lagbhag 6th century BCE ke aas-paas maana jata hai (lagbhag 599–527 BCE ke beech), lekin Digambar aur Shwetambar dono dharm ke anusar yeh dharm pehle se tha aur Mahavira ne use punarsthapit ya punarpadit kiya, na ki naya srijan kiya.

Aasha hai ki is se spasht hua ki Jain dharm ki sthapna ek vyakti ya ek nirdharit tareekh par nahi, balki anadi parampara aur 24 Tirthankaron ki kranti ke roop mein jaani jaati hai.