$JES 901 Jainism and Spiritual Awakening E9

Author(s): JAINA Education Committee
Publisher: JAINA Education Committee

Page 28

03 - FOUNDER AND LORD MAHÄVIR
03 - Founder and Lord Mahävir
Founder of Four-fold Order The philosophy of the Jain religion is eternal but various
Tirthankaras have continually preached its code of conduct and practices based on their time in history, place, and circumstances.
Approximately 2500 years ago, Tirthankara Mahävir or Vardhaman (599 BC to 527 BC), the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of this era, established a religious order based on the Jain philosophy, which had been preached by his predecessor Tirthankara Pärshvanath (950 BC to 850 BC) and all previous Tirthankaras. He modified its code of conduct and practices which was in line with the current time, place and circumstances. The present Jain scriptures are a compilation of Lord
Mahävir's teachings.
Life of Lord Mahävir Lord Mahävir was a prince whose given birth name was Vardhamän. As the son of king Siddhartha, he had many worldly pleasures, comforts, and services at his command. However, at the age of thirty, he left his family and the royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, and became a selfinitiated monk in search of a solution to eliminate pain, sorrow, and suffering from his life and from the life of all beings. During the first year, Bhagawan Mahävir was carrying a piece of cloth. A poor
JAINISM AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING
21