MAHAVIRA, the title of Vardhamana, the 24th and last Jainatirthankara, began his austerities at the ago of 30, continued them for twelve and a half years as a digambara or naked ascetic, without even a bhikhshu's begging dish, and at the age of 72 he died at the court of king Hasti pala, about B.C. 526. His disciple Gautaina Swami or Gautami Indra Illiuti is supposed by some to have been Cautarna Buddha, the founder of the Buddhist religion. The Buddhists desig nate Cautama as Ifabavira, and mention Maha Kasyapa as his chief and eminent disciple. The Jains style him Kasyapa Mahavira, and mention Gautama as his chief disciple (Ganadhara). Both Buddhists and aims concur in making Mahavira the friend and spiritual teacher of a king of Rajagriha, the capital of Magadha, whose name was Sreuika or Bliambhasara according to the Jains, and Bimbisaro according to the Buddhists.
Mr. Garrett gives a legend which relates that Mahavira was repeatedly born again. His first birth was as Nayasara, headman of a village it the country of Vijaya, from which he was trans ferred for oceans of years to the Sandharme heaven. He was then re - born as Marichi, the grandson of Rishaba, the first tirthankara, and thence transferred to Brahma - loka, whence he returned as a worldly-minded and sensual Brah man, the consequence of which was repeated births in the same caste, each birth separated by an interval passed in one of the Jaina heavens.
He then became Visvabhuta, prince of Rajagriha, and next a Vasudeva named Triprishta ; then a Choravartti Priyamitra, then a Nandana, leading a life of devotion. On the return of the spirit of Nandana to earth, it first animated the womb of the wife of a Brahman, but was transferred tc the womb of Tresala, wife of Siddharta, of the family of Ikshvaku, a prince of Ravana in Bhara kshetra. He was born on the 13th of the light fortnight of Chaitra. His father named him Varddhamana, but it was changed to Mahavira. He married Yasoda, daughter of prince Samara Vira, by whom he had one daughter, named Priya Darsana, who married Jamali, a prince, one of the saint's pupils, and founder of a schism. Sid dhartha and his wife died when Mahavira was 28 years of age, on which Mahavira adopted an ascetic life, the government devolving on his elder brother Nandivarddhana. After ten years of abstinence and self-denial, he commenced an erratic life, often fasting and in silence. In twelve and a half years he attained the Kevala or only knowledge, under a sal tree on the north bank of the Rijupalika, and commenced to instruct from a stage. He enjoined to avoid injury to life or giving pain, to speak truth, not to steal, to be continent. On his death his body was burnt, but unconsumed portions were kept as relics.— Dr. Bhau Daji in Bo. R. As. Voe. ; Garrett.