<P> History of Jainism concerns a religion founded in Ancient India . Jains trace their history through twenty - four tirthankara and revere Rishabhanatha as the first tirthankara (in the present time - cycle). The last two tirthankara, the 23rd tirthankara Parshvanatha (c. 872--c. 772 BCE) and the 24th tirthankara Mahavira (c. 599--c. 527 BCE) are considered historical figures, though many historians date them both about a century later because the Mahavira is widely accepted as a contemporary of the Buddha, and significantly more historical evidence is available for the Buddha . According to Jain texts, the 22nd Tirthankara arsth - Nami lived about 85,000 years ago and was the cousin of Hindu god Krishna . Jains consider their religion to be eternal . </P> <P> The two main sects of Jainism, the Digambara and the Śvētāmbara sect, likely started forming about the 3rd century BCE and the schism was complete by about 5th century CE . These sects later subdivided into several sub-sects such as Sthānakavāsī and Terapanthis . Jainism co-existed with Buddhism and Hinduism in ancient and medieval India . Many of its historic temples were built near the Buddhist and Hindu temples in 1st millennium CE . After the 12th - century, the temples, pilgrimage and naked ascetic tradition of Jainism suffered persecution during the Muslim rule, with the exception of Akbar whose religious tolerance and support for Jainism led to a temporary ban on animal killing during the Jain religious festival of Paryusan . </P> <P> The origins of Jainism are obscure . The Jains claim their religion to be eternal, and consider Rishabhanatha to be the founder in the present time - cycle, and someone who lived for 8,400,000 purva years . Rishabhanatha is among the first 22 of 24 Jain Tirthankaras who are considered to be mythical figure by historians . </P> <P> Different scholars have had different views on the origin . Some artifacts found in the Indus Valley civilization have been suggested as a link to ancient Jain culture, but this is highly speculative . According to a 1925 proposal of Glasenapp, Jainism's origin can be traced to the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha, and he considers the first twenty - two tirthankaras as legendary mythical figures . According to another proposal by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the first vice president of India, Jainism was in existence long before the Vedas were composed . </P>

Who according to jains was the founder of jainism