Where was Mahavira born?

Mahavira was born in Kundagrama, traditionally identified with a settlement near Vaishali in present-day Bihar, India.

Jain texts place his birth in the royal family of King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala of the Naya tribe. His birth name was Vardhamana, meaning “one who grows” or “one who prospers,” reportedly reflecting the prosperity associated with his arrival. Jain tradition dates his birth to 599 BCE, though historians debate the precise year.

Kundagrama is also called Kshatriyakund or Kundagrāma in different sources. The exact modern location remains disputed: proposed identifications include areas near Vaishali and Basu Kund, north of Patna. That geographical uncertainty does not change the traditional place-name used in the answer.

Mahavira later became the 24th and final Tirthankara of the current Jain time cycle. After renouncing worldly life, he practiced austerities for about twelve and a half years before attaining omniscience. His birth is celebrated during Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, usually in March or April.