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Jainism, or the path of the Jinas, or conquerors, is India's longest continuous monastic tradition. Its devotees use austere behaviors and even self-mutilation to achieve identity. Mahavira was born to a reigning family in the town of Vaishali, which is now part of the current state of Bihar, according to tradition. He sacrificed his prosperous life at the age of thirty and dedicated himself to fasting and self-mortification to cleanse his mind and uncover the meaning of life.