Who Founded Jainism and Why

Jainism was founded by Mahavira in the sixth century B.C. at the age of thirty when he set out on a religious quest. During Mahavira’s thirteenth year of being on his quest he gained supreme knowledge and from then on he preached about Jainism until his death thirty years later. Mahavira was the last of the twenty four teachers which were also called Jina which means “conqueror” of the woes of existence. Mahavira was born into the warrior class of India and when he set out on his quest it is said that he let go of all of the pleasures in life. It is also believed that he wandered around in the forest while he was naked and dealt with all types of discomforts. He believed in non-violence and many other things that are now the basic beliefs of Jainism.

Mahavira founded Jainism due to an outbreak against Hinduism and the