Mahavira (महावीर lit. Great Hero) (599 – 527 BCE, though possibly 549 – 477 BCE) is the name most commonly use to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamana (Sanskrit: वर्धमान "increasing") who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. He is also known in texts as Vira or Viraprabhu, Sanmati, Ativira,and Gnatputra. In the Theravada Buddhist scriptures he is referred to as the Nirgrantha Nathaputta - 'the naked ascetic of the Jñātr clan.'