Summary: social and political background, that of an oligarchic republic, where power was vested in a senate and local clans. Mahavira's birth name was Nigantha Nataputta, belonging to the Naya clan, and he is also known as Vardhamana and Vesaliya, indicating his birthplace in Vaisali. The local government in Vaisali was part of a confederation of eight small clans known as the Vajjis. The political landscape of the time was marked by devastation caused by natural calamities and war, leading to ruination of once prosperous regions. Mahavira's life unfolded amidst this backdrop, shaping his philosophical and ethical teachings, which were expressed in Ardha-Magadhi or Jaina Prakrit, a distinct language that evolved alongside Sanskrit. The political history of the era had a profound impact on the development of philosophical thought, influencing the social order and cultural expressions of the time.