Mahaaveer Jee was the contemporary of Gautam Buddha who is supposed to be the 9th incarnation of Vishnu (according to Bhaagvat Puran), from among His 10 incarnations. His 8th incarnation was Krishn and the 10th incarnation will be Kalki Avataar at the end of the Kali Yug. It is mistaken to think that Mahaaveer was the one who started Jain religion. In fact he was the last Teerthankar, the 24th one, of Jain religion. After him there will be nobody.

Mahaaveer's story is similar to Buddha's story. His real name was Vardhamaan. He was a prince. He was born to the King Siddhaarth and Queen Trishalaa (Priyakarnee) in Bihaar on Chaitra Shukla 13 (12 April according to Gregorian calendar). It is believed that when he was still in womb he brought prosperity to the kingdom, that is why they named him Vardhamaan. Surprisingly Trishalaa had 14 auspicious dreams, which were the signs that she was going to give birth a great soul, before giving birth to Vardhamaan.

From his childhood he was interested in meditation, and at the age of 30 he renounced his kingdom, family, worldly possessions (including his clothes) and started living in austere life. At the end of his austerities, he obtained Kaivalya Gyaan and then he was a person of infinite harmony. Later he started preaching, at one time he had 400,000 followers. At the age of 72 years, and 4.5 months he attained Nirvaan in the area known as Paavaapooree on the last day of Indian and Jain calendars - Deepaavalee. Jain believe that Mahaaveer lived from 599 BC to 527 BC; though some say that he lived from 549 BC to 477 BC.

This could happen only when people follow the theory of Anekaant-vaad (Theory of non-Absolutism), and the Syaadvaad (Theory of Relativity). He also told that both sexes can equally seek their spiritual development and thus renounce the world. There are two sects in Jain - Digambar who live naked and Shwetaambar who wear white clothes.

Jainism existed before Mahaaveer and his teachings were based on his predecessors' teachings only. A few centuries after Mahaaveer's Nirvaan, his Sangh grew more and more complex. His life description is given in Kalp Sootra by Aachaarya Bhadrabaahu I. His first Sanskrit biography is Vardhman Charit by Asaga in 853 AD.