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MAHAVIRA
1. Born at Vaisâli (Kunda. 1. grâm) about 599 B. C. 2. His parents lived to a 2. good old age.
3. Assumed the ascetic life 3. with the consent of his relatives.
4 His preparation in the ascetic stage lasted for
BUDDHA
Born at Kapilavastu about 557 B. C.
His mother died soon after giving his birth. Made himself a monk against the wishes of his father.
Obtained illumination at the end of 6 years only.
5. Died at Kusinagar about 488 B. C.
12 years.
5. Died at Pawa in
527 B. C.
4.
Pârshwanatha was born at Benares in 877 B. C, and reached nirvana in 777 B. C. on a hill which is still known as Pareshnath Hills in Bengal. Mahavira or Vardhamâna, the last Tirthankara of this age, only improved upon the then existing doctrines and customs according to the exigencies of the time, and it was he who gave Jainism its final form. The current tenets and practices of Jainism, as embodied in the existing Sutras or canons, are his utterances.
Mahavira was the son of Siddhartha, the chief of the Nat clan of Kundagrama near the city of Vaisâli, who belonged to a noble
7.
