Bhagwan Vardhaman Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara of our times as per the Jain tradition, is believed to have been born on Chaitra Shukla Trayodashi (thirteenth day of the increasing moon cycle generally in March-April) in 599 BCE*. The auspicious day of his birth is celebrated as Mahavir Jayanti.
His pious parents Trishala and Siddhartha belonged to an aristocratic Kshatriya family and lived in the republic of Vaishali or Vajji (located in present day Bihar, India).
The five principles of Truth, Non-violence, Non-possession, Celibacy and Non-stealing form the bedrock of Mahavira Swami’s timeless teachings.
