Lord Mahavir Swami was born in 599 B.C. on the thirteenth day of the rising moon during the month of Chaitra in the Vira Nirvana Samvat calendar, as Prince Vardhamana. His father was King Siddhartha and his mother was Queen Trishala of the Ikshvaku Dynasty. Many historians believe that he was born in Kshatriyakund in the Kingdom of Vaishali (modern-day Bihar). His parents were followers of the Jain ascetic Parashwanatha.
Being a prince he was raised amidst much luxury yet nothing affected him. He led a very simple life. As per his parent’s wish, he married Princess Yashoda, at a very young age and the couple had a daughter, Priyadarshana. However, the Digambara sect of Jainism believes that Vardhamana refused to get married when his parents insisted.
When his parents passed away and his elder brother Nandivardhana succeeded their father, Vardhamana was 28 years old. He craved freedom from worldly attachments and sought his brother’s permission to renounce the royal life. His brother King Nandivardhana tried to dissuade him from his resolve but Vardhamana was adamant with his practising fast and meditation at home. At the age of 30 years, he finally abandoned his home and embraced the ascetic life of a monk. He gave away his possessions, put on a single piece of cloth and uttered “Namo Siddhanam” (I bow down to the liberated souls) and left all his worldly attachments behind.
