Mahavira
Amar Chitra Katha Comic Books Series
Mahavira was born in Bihar to King Siddhartha and his wife, Trishala, in 599 B.C. Named Prince Vardhamana, he was destined to become great. After years of contemplation on life and the ultimate truth, he renounced the world and became an ascetic at the young age of 30. For 12 long years he practiced deep meditation, silence and compassion at the end of which he achieved enlightenment and went on to become the 24th Jain Tirthankara (one who finds enlightenment and shows the way to others).
He was however neither a pioneer of Jainism nor its last Tirthankara. Jain tradition believes there have been many Tirthankaras before Mahavira, and there will be several in the future. Mahavira himself said that his religious teachings - based on the Jain principles of ahimsa, karma and nirvana - had been propounded by many Jinas in the past, and will be taught by many in the future.