Mahavira
/muh-HAA-vee-ruh/
The 24th Tirthankara, a contemporary of the Buddha.
Born a prince (Vardhamana) in what is now Bihar, he renounced everything at 30, practised intense austerity for over 12 years, attained omniscience and taught for about 30 years. Traditional dates are 599–527 BCE; many historians place him somewhat later.