Bhagavana Mahavira was twentyfourth and last Tirthankara. he was born in Kundagrama. His father, Sidhdaratha was the king of Vaisali-Janpada. His mother Trisala was the pious daughter of king Cetaka. His mother was also known as Priyakarini.

      At the time of conception, mother Trisala had sixteen meaningful and beautiful dreams. She was much elated and happy. Next morning, she asked king Siddharatha about the dreams. He said that she was going to have an extraordinary child, who will preach the path to salvation for all.

      With the birth of Mahavira, prosperity increased; so King Siddharatha called his son Vardhamana. Once upon a day, simply by seeing Vardhamana, the philosophical doubt, of Sanjaya and vijaya Munies was resolved; so he was given the name "Sanmati" by the Munies.

      He once, controlled and pacified an amuck elephant, therefore the people of Vaisali addressed him as 'Vira'. Vardhamana in his childhood was very brave. He had extra ordinary physical and spiritual power. Once upon a day, Sanamdeva, a celestial being came to test the bravery of Vardhamana. Sangamadeva assumed from of a cobra. Vardhamana fearlessly played with it. So, Sangamadeva bestowed  on him an honour of 'Mahavira'.

      Gradually, Mahavira attained abulthood, but wordly pleasures did not attract him. His parents desired to marry him with a beautiful Princess Yasoda. despite this, Mahavira exhibited non-attachment to mundane desires.

      Mahavira saw that life's pain and suffering are rooted in attachment, likes and dislikes. So, he refused to marry and left his princely comforts. This is known as 'Maha-Abhiniskramana-that is the Great Renunciation of Mahavira, at the age of thirty. From time, Mahavira moved as Nirgrantha-Muni i.e. a naked ascetic.

      He endured with the greatest equanimity, all sorts of abuses and tortures inflicted on him by vicious persons. Mahavira meditated day and night undisturbed and unperturbed. At last, under the Sala tree on the bank of the river Rjukala, outside the town Jrmbhika, he attained supreme knowledge known as Kevala-Jnana and became Arihanta at the age of forty two years.

      After the attainment of Kevala-Jnana, Mahavira remained silent and did not deliver any sermon for sixty six days, in the absence of Ganadhara. Ganahara is the only person who is capable and authorised to tanslate, pronounce and lay down the wordless preachings of Tirthankara in languages for the benefit of all time to come.

      One day, Mahavira arrived at Vipulacala mountain outside the city of Rajagraha (India), where Samavasarana (religious assembley)was organised. As a result of the presence of a renowned brahmin scholar named Indrabhuti-Gautama in the assembly, Mahavira delivered his first sermon at the Vipulacala mountain. This day is celebrated as the "Vira-Sasana-day" by Jainas, Indrabhuti-Gautama was designated as the first Ganadhara (cheif-disciple) of Mahavira.

      For full thirty years, Mahavira travelled different parts of the country (India) and preached the doctrine of Ahimsa and Anekanta. Owing to the magnetic personality of Bhagavan Mahavira and his powerful ethical and spiritual teachings, number of kings, queens, princes, princesses, ministers and merchants accepted him as their teacher. The males and females of all castes and classes became the ardent followers of Mahavira and thus his fourfold order of Muni (male ascetics), Aryika (female ascetics), Sravakas (male householders) and Sravikas (female householders) came into existence.

      Candanabala became a most prominent Aryika and king Srenika became a meain Sriavaka amongst Bhagavana Mahavira's followers.

      Bhagavana Mahavira attained Nirvana at Pavapura in the state of Bihar in India, at the age of seventy two years, in 527 B.C. It was early morning of Kartika Krsna triyodasi. On the same evening Gautam Ganadhara attained as the Supreme Knowledge or Kevala-Jnana. This day is being celebrated as the Dipavali-festival (festival of lights) all over India. We Jainas worship the event by offering sweets (Ladus) before the idol of Tirthankara Mahavira in early morning and also celebrate as the festival of lights, at night