Who was the Last Jain Tirthankara? Lord Mahavira Facts
Lord Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankara of Jainism. He is credited with providing the final structure to Jain philosophy and ethics in the 6th century BCE.
Primary Reference: NCERT Class XII - Themes in Indian History Part I
Archived:
Updated:
Exam Year
1993
Evidence Source
Link ↗Who was the last one in the order of Jain Tirthankaras?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 1993]
Detailed Solution & Historical Context
Concept
In Jainism, a Tirthankara (Ford-maker) is a spiritual teacher who has conquered the cycle of death and rebirth and provides a path for others to follow.
Authentic Source Evidence
Jaina tradition recognizes a lineage of 24 Tirthankaras. Lord Rishabhanatha (Risabhdev) was the first, and Lord Mahavira (Vardhamana) was the 24th and final Tirthankara of the current time cycle.
Analytical Breakdown
Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic
"Did Mahavira 'start' Jainism?"
Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip
"While Parshvanath provided the four vows, Mahavira added the fifth vow (Brahmacharya), finalizing the ethical code of the Jaina path."
Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)
Analysing authentic UPSC CSE Prelimsprevious year questions is non-negotiable for serious aspirants. Thoroughly decoding past exam trends related to Jainism History helps you understand the examiner's mindset. Mastering specific entities like Lord Mahavira and Last Tirthankara builds the analytical intuition needed to clear the exam. Practice Previous Year Questions here →