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the most intense asceticism, meditation, self-control and penance. He practiced silence and remained calm and unperturbed in the face of the greatest adversity.
As a result of this, he attained supreme detachment (viitaraaga) and omniscience (kevala gynaana) on the 10th day of the bright half of the moon in the lunar month of Vaishaakha, 557 years before the birth of Christ (Sunday, 23 April, 557 BCE). On the very next day, Monday 24 April, 557 BCE, he established the dharma tiirtha {ford of religion and the fourfold sangha. He taught the world the path of liberation. His teachings survive to this day. The sangha he had established has also passed the test of time. Mahavira travelled to various places, teaching the path of liberation to all. He had eleven main disciples, known as ganadharas. In addition, he had 36000 nuns and 14000 monks as his disciples. Besides them there were 159,000 laymen, 318,000 laywomen and many more stanch followers
At the age of 72, Mahavira left his mortal coil and his soul ascended to moksha. He was enlightened and had shed all his karmas. He attained the supremely blissful state of liberation at Pavapuri on the 14th day of the dark half of the moon in the lunar month of Kaartika, 527 years before the birth of Christ (Tuesday, 15 October, 527 BCE).
Aagamas
The scriptures of the Jains are known as Aagamas.
Each Tirthankara teaches his pupils the tripadii (three-step instruction, which ensures that they master the 12 angas (segments of the Jain teachings (Aagamas). They master the Aagamas quickly because of their own pursuit of true knowledge in past lives and because of their own annihilation and suppression (kshayopashama) of knowledge impeding (Gynaanavaraniiya) karmas.
Aagama means the teachings of the aapta purusha {supremely trustworthy, absolutely authoritative perfect soul). They comprise of the sermons of the Jinaas. The usual topics covered in them are karma, dharma, knowledge, soul, merits, demerits and moksh. Studying the Aagamas helps attain shruta gynaana {scriptural knowledge}. Currently, the Sthanakavasi tradition of the Shvetambara Jains considers 32 Aagamas to be authentic while the Murtipujaaka tradition of the Shvetambara Jains considers 45 Aagamas to be authentic.
In the times of Lord Mahavira, there was no tradition of writing down scriptures. They were remembered in the most ancient way - the oral tradition. With the passing of time, the tradition of memorising and remembering vast texts began to wind down and 980 years after the salvation of Lord Mahavira, the Aagamas began to be written down.
