The founder of Jainism was Vardhman.
He is famous as Mahavira Swami.
Towards the end of the Vedas there was a depressing atmosphere in India in the spiritual realm.
Hinduism failed to satisfy the spiritual aspirations of the masses.
Then Mahavira Swami presented his thinking.
Birth, Childhood and Marriage: Mahavira Swami was born in $599\ BC$ in a village called Kundagram in Vaishali Republic of Bihar.
His original name was Vardhman.
His father's name was Siddhartha and he was the leader of a Kshatriya caste of Kundagram.
His mother's name was Trishala Devi and she was a princess from Vaishali Nagari.
With the birth of a son, the prosperity of the father increased, so the name of the child was increased.
There are many miracle stories of his childhood in Jain literature.
He did not have this special power towards the world from his childhood.
However, respecting his parents' wishes, he married Yashoda Devi, a princess of the Kundinya Gotra.
From this marriage they had a daughter named Priyadarshina.
He lived a happy life until he was $30$ years old.
After the death of his parents, he left home on the orders of his elder brother Nandvardhan.
Searching for Truth and Gaining Knowledge: After leaving the world, Vardhman resorted to penance and meditation in search of truth.
He underwent intense penance for twelve years to attain Moksha.
In the $13th$ year he conquered the survey senses and attained the knowledge of Kaivalya.
Hence they were called "Mahavira" and "Jin".
His followers were called "Jains" from above.
Mahavira Swami was freed from the shackles of happiness and sorrow.
Hence they were called "Negranth".
After attaining the knowledge of Kaivalya, Mahavira preached to the people in Vaishali, Videha and Magadha for $30$ years.
In $527\ BC,$ at the age of $72,$ he attained Nirvana at Pavapuri, near the capital of Magadha.
Hence Pavapuri is considered as an important pilgrimage place of Jains.