Who Mahavira Was
The title of this article contains a common confusion, so it is best to clear it up first. Mahavira is not a Buddhist figure. He is the teacher whom Jains regard as the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of the present age, a “ford-maker” who showed a path to liberation. His given name, according to tradition, was Vardhamana, and “Mahavira” means “great hero”.
Jain tradition and Buddhist texts both place him in the same part of north India and roughly the same period as the Buddha, in the region of Magadha and its neighbours. Dates differ between Jain communities and modern scholars, so it is safest to say he lived in the 6th or 5th century BCE. Early Buddhist texts refer to a contemporary leader of the Niganthas, an early name for the Jain community, which is generally taken to mean Mahavira. The two teachers are not usually thought to have met, and their teachings differ in important ways, including how they understand karma and the practice of austerity. A separate article on Mahavira and Buddha looks at how the two are sometimes confused at monuments elsewhere.
The Mahavir Mandir in Patna
Many people searching for a Mahavira temple in India are in fact looking for the Mahavir Mandir in Patna, near the railway station. This is a Hindu temple. Its name refers to Hanuman, who is called Mahavir or Mahavira in Hindu devotion, and it has no connection to the Jain teacher or to Buddhism. It is a busy and well-known shrine, and it serves a community of devotees quite different from those of the Buddhist and Jain sites discussed here.
The two uses of the word are unrelated. If you see a temple described only as Mahavira or Mahavir, check which tradition it belongs to before you arrive, since customs, dress expectations and festival days differ.
Jain Heritage Around Rajgir
Rajgir has long been important to Jains. Jain accounts say that Mahavira spent several rainy seasons in Rajagriha and the nearby Nalanda, and tradition also associates the town with the twentieth Tirthankara, Munisuvrata. A number of the surrounding hills carry Jain temples, and several are reached by steps. The hills commonly named in this connection are Vipulachal, Ratnagiri, Udaygiri, Swarnagiri and Vaibhargiri. Some of these hill names overlap with places on the Buddhist circuit, which is one reason the same ridge can be sacred to different communities at once. The Sonbhandar caves on Vaibhara hill, cut into the rock, are also often discussed in connection with Jain history. Their date and purpose are debated, and some scholars have linked them to ascetic communities in the early centuries CE.
For Buddhist visitors, the Jain presence is a reminder that Rajagriha was a place of many teachers. The Pali texts mention a wide variety of wandering ascetics and philosophers of this region, and the Buddha’s community grew alongside theirs. This broader heritage forms part of what makes Rajgir interesting, and the physical reminders of Jain heritage are worth a respectful look.
Pawapuri
Within a short drive of Rajgir lies Pawapuri, which Jain tradition identifies with the town of Pava, where Mahavira is said to have attained final liberation. The best known site is the Jal Mandir, a white temple standing in the middle of a lotus pond and reached by a causeway. There are further temples nearby. Both the Svetambara and Digambara communities honour the place, and some details of their accounts differ.
Pawapuri also appears in Buddhist literature. In the Pali texts, the Buddha’s last meal is linked to a smith called Cunda at Pava, shortly before the Buddha’s final journey to Kushinagar. Whether the Pava of the Buddhist account is the same as the modern Pawapuri is a question scholars have discussed, and some identify it with other places. It is best to say that the town is one candidate.
Visiting Jain Sites Respectfully
Jain temples are active places of worship with their own rules.
- Follow the usual temple dress code of covered shoulders and knees. Some temples ask visitors to remove leather items, including belts and wallets, and to leave them outside.
- Expect to remove shoes, and follow signs about where women may or may not enter at certain times, since practice differs between communities.
- Ask before photographing images, and do not touch them.
- Be aware that many Jains observe strict vegetarianism and non-violence, so avoid bringing meat or eggs into temple areas.
Rules vary from site to site and change over time, so follow local guidance, check current information, and read up on common visitor etiquette mistakes before you go. This article is general and does not speak for any tradition.