The founder of modern Jainism. He is regarded as the twenty-fourth tirthankara, or spiritual teacher, who revived and synthesized ancient Jain traditions. His mother, Trishala, is said to have had either fourteen or sixteen auspicious dreams before his birth. In his forties, Mahavira is said to have achieved Kevala Jnana, or infinite knowledge, while meditating under a salah tree. He subsequently taught a number of principles, including ahimsa, the prohibition of violence against living beings of any kind.