The below mentioned article provides a short biography of Mahavira. The original name of Mahavira was Vardhamana. He was born at Kundagrama. His father Siddhartha was the Chief of his clan. Siddhartha had two sons and Vardhamana was the youngest of the two. He was born in 539 B.C. At the time of his birth the astrologers made a forecast [...]
The following points highlight the top seven contributions of Jainism to Hindu culture. The contributions are: 1. Philosophy 2. Caste 3. Purification of Hindu Religion 4. Greater attention towards Public Utility 5. Dampening of Military Spirit 6. Literature 7. Architecture. Contribution # 1. Philosophy: Though the teachings of Jainism were greatly influenced by the Vedic philosophy, it developed a distinct [...]
Mahavira Vardhamana to whom Jainism owes its establishment as a religion probably lived from 540 to 468, B.C. According to Jaina tradition there were altogether twenty-four Tirthankaras that is, ford-makers or prophets, Mahavira being the twenty-fourth. The religious sect which came to be known as Jainism after the name of Mahavira Jina seems to have been in existence from some [...]