Lord Mahavir had renunciated this world in 629 B.C. He acepted sanyama to attain self-realisation. Lord Mahavir knew that there is a bondage, stronger than that of strong silk ropes or that of strong steel ropes. He knew that there is particular bandage stronger than that of body. He therefore gave away the love for body. He carefully deployed the passions to inner realization. He asked his monkey – like mind to be involved in religions activities. In order to destroy the karmas, he himself went to the land of uncivilised people. He willingly and happily, bore all the anger, abuses, attacks done by ignorant people and stood against the battalion of all kinds of attacks. He never refused to face all the 22 kinds of endurance with equanimity.

The Sadhana (efforts) means Endurance

Lord Mahavir had a goal before him to make people totally free from miseries. Unhappiness and sins. He had to collect a strength for this purpose, Therefore, he carried out a life of great sufferings by observing most difficult vows for not less than twelve and a half years continuously. During his sage life, he observed 4166 fasts without food and water. All these fasts were sometimes in a sequence of continuous six months, sometimes five months and twenty five days; sometimes two months, sometimes a month and a half, sometimes one month, sometime fifteen days, three days, two days etc. During all these years, he never took food for two days continuously nor even twice a day. During these days, he endured all kinds of external attacks (upsargas) which might be done byGoshalak, or by the shepherd or by Dev sangam or by goddess katputna (Veantari) or even by a great poisonous snake Chand kaushik or by those people who prepared milk-sweets by burning fire between his two legs. The Lord had undergone all these sufferings with a firm mind of endhrance in a very nautral way. He never thought that one who makes harassment is guilty. He did not even make any reactive movement. And thus he came out with the great purity of mind.

Achievement of his Efforts

One would wonder, how a man made of bodily limbs can endure all these? These are two possible answers to this questions. (1) his height of knowledge was at the peak. He was deeply engrossed in the stream of meditation. His consciousness was very very powerful. In fact he was not living at the leyer of bodily life. (2) he had adopted a view of being harsh to his own self but being subtly soft to all other beings. HE therefore had not to make any conscious efforts to endure all such sufferings. This came to him so naturally;

What do the efforts of Lord Mahavir mean?

- Improve yourself before you improve the would.
- Undergoing very vigorous penance to cut out the love for body.
- Total engrossment in meditation for cleanliness of mind/heart.
- Loneliness for peace of mind –more and more emphasis on silence .
- Very short sleep in order to be completely awakened (He slept only for 48 minutes during a long period    of 12 and a half year)
- No love for what is our liking no hatred for what is not our liking.
- Total rejection for dual feelings such as happiness, Unhappiness, liking, disliking etc.
- Total destruction of the Ego-centric feelings and enjoying the sweetness of only self realization.

What did the Lord achieve with His efforts ?

He achieved the virtues like tolerance, fearlessness, love compassion, non-violence, pardon, totally giving up of moha, etc. during this period, by his efforts. All these virtues were imbibed into himself. He presented a set of series of virtues and ultimately attained the Ultimate knowledge (Kevalgyan).
Due to the achievement of his efforts.

Due to the achievements his efforts. He became a Tirthankara at the age of 42/2. He was known as Jina, Arihant, Vitrag and Tirthankara. The men folks came to him to bow down to his feet. The kings were pleased, the Gods and Indras also recited the songs of his praise. The kings of people came to his service. Thirty four ATISHAYA were presented; his speech became best with 35 best qualities. The violent animals / birds also became quiet. There was an end to the people’s sins and sorrows. The people at large got love, joy, happiness.

Sr.No.	What was his life	Duration	Other details
1.	Naysar	----	He got the first samayakatva of this life in west Mahavideh.
2.	A God in Saudharma Haven	One Palyopam	He enjoyed the God’s living.
3.	Marichi	84 Lakhs purva (innumerable number)	He became a grand son of Lord Rishabhdev. He also became a Tri-dandi saint. He talked bad, Had the pride of his family. All this resulted in getting the birth in lower spicie.
4.	God in Brahamlok	10 sagaropam	He enjoyed god’s living.
5.	Kaushik Brahmin	80 Lakh purva	At kollak village. Took a Tri-dandi dress. Went through a no. of small & bad lives moved in this world.
6.	Pushpamitra Brahmin	72 Lakhs purva	Became a Tri-dandi in Sthuna town.
7.	God in Saudharma Devlok	Midium Position	Enjoyed God’s living
8.	Agnidhyat Brahmin	60 Lakhs purva	Became a Tri dandi sage at Chaitya village
9.	God in the Ishan Devlok	Medium position	Enjoyed god’s living.
10.	Agni Bhooti	56 Lakh Purva	Became Tri dandi sage at Mandir village.
11.	God in Sanatkumar Heaven (Devlok)	Medium position	Enjoyed God’s living
12.	Bhardvaj	44 Lakhs purva	Became a Tri dandi at swetambi town
13.	God in Mahendra Heven	Middle position	Enjoyed God’s living. Therefore wandered in many small lives.
14.	Sthavar Brahmin	Middle Position	Became a Tridandi in rajagaruhi
15.	God in Brahmin Heven	Middle Position	Enjoyed God’s living.
16.	Prince Vishva Bhooti	1 Crore years	Became a monk. Faught cow. Had an un fulfilled desire. Died on continuous fasts.
17.	God in Mahasukra Heven	Best position	Enjoyed best life of God.
18.	Triprusth Vasudev	84 Lakhs Years	Had a bondage of Nilkacht karma, due to putting of hot lead in the ears in Potampur.
19.	Taman, Taman in Seventh Hell	33 sagaropam	Had also miseries of Hell in the seventh Madhvati Hell.
20.	Lion	---	Had a no. of lives even after a birth as lion in Tiryanch yoni (Animal sect)
21.	Pank Prabha 4th hell		A number of birth after the birth in Hell.
22.	Prince Vimal		Very kind person Renuciated the world had very hard penance and fast upto death.
23.	Priyamitra Chakravarti	84 lakhs purva	Renunciated the world at the hand of Pottilacharga. Had Penance of one crore years.
24.	God in Mahasuk Heven	17 Sagaropam	Enjoyed God’s life.
25.	King Nandan	25 Lakhs years	Had a great penace of 20 Sthanak Top with 1180, 640 months fast. Here he could ensure of becoming a tirthankara by great penance.
26.	God in Pranat Haven	20 Sagaropam	Enjoyed God life in the Pushpohara Vatansak aircraft
27.	Lord Mahavir Or Prince Vardhman	72 years	Born in Kshatriya Kund (Bihar) father Sidharth Mother Trishlamata. Became 24th Tirthankara had a great sadhna of twelve and half years Got Ultimate Knowledge at the age of forty two and half years. Died in Pavapuri. Attained Moksha.

In Nutshell :

14 lives as human, 10 lives as God, 1 Life as animal 2 lives in Hell.
Became Vasudev at 18th birth and Chakravarti at 23rd and finally at 27th birth as Tirthankara Lord Mahavir

The ignorant people got good knowledge, the violent villain and sinful people became non-violent and they became true human beings. Thus who were true human beings and were on right path, attained samyaktva pure vision for life. The learned people preferred to renunciate the world; and with a lot of efforts they attained knowledge achieved the right path and thereafter there were infinite achievement and also attained moksha. In present era also Jains are prosperous and happy.
Their contribution to Non-violence to this world is remarkable Jain religion stands firm with unique due to the great impact of Lord Mahavir who is the main source of this mane grace and fame of Jainism.