Vardhamana Mahavira was the most famous thinker of the Jains, who spread his message around 2500 years ago. He was a Kshatriya prince of the Lichchhavis, a group that was a part of the Vajji Sangha.
At the age of thirty, he left home and went to live in a forest. For twelve years, he led a hard and lonely life, at the end of which he attained enlightenment.

Sangha was an association of those who left their homes. As both Mahavira and Buddha felt that only those who left their homes could gain true knowledge, they arranged for them to stay together in the Sangha.

Many of the thinkers felt that there was something permanent in the universe that would last even after death. They described this as the atman or the individual soul and the brahmin or the universal soul. They believed that ultimately, both the atman and the brahmin were one

Many of the thinkers felt that there was something permanent in the universe that would last even after death. They described this as the atman or the individual soul and the brahman or the universal soul. They believed that ultimately, both the atman and the brahman were one

The beggar convinced the sages that all people are part of the universal world i.e., God, and he is also a part of the universal soul. If the sages refused food to the beggar, they are refusing it to God. So, the sages shared their food with him.

(i) Buddhist monks and nuns lived and meditated in these shelters.
(ii) These raves were used by the monks and nuns in tile rainy season because during this season it was very difficult to travel.
(iii) This cave is in Karle, which is in present day Maharashtra.

(i) The system of Ashramas developed around the 6^th century B.C.This was the time when Jainism and Buddhism became popular.
(ii) The word' Ashrama' means' a stage of life'.
(iii) There were four Ashramas. They were brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa.

The followers of Mahavira are known as Jains.
Some of the features of the Jains are :
(i) They had to lead very simple lives, begging for food.
(ii) They have to be absolutely honest and are especially asked not to steal.
(iii) They have to observe celibacy.
(iv) Men had to give up everything, including their clothes.

(i)Karle, present-day Maharashtra
(ii)Monks and nuns lived and meditated in these caves or shelters.

The story of the wise beggar is taken from the Chhandogya Upanishad. There were two sages named Shaunaka and Abhipratarin, who worshipped the universal soul.
One day when they started to eat, a beggar came and asked for some foods But they refused him to give Then the beggar told them that the universal soul fills the whole world, everybody is a part of it. God is also a universal soul. Thus, by denying food to the beggar, actually they are denying food to the universal so Hearing the beggar's view, the sages realised the truth and shared their food with him.