Mahāvīra’s Twelve Years of Tapas The Path to Kevala Jñāna

What does it take to conquer the self? In this episode of the Mahāvīra Documentary Series, Dr. Pankaj Jain explores the twelve extraordinary years of tapas (austerity) undertaken by Vardhamāna after his great renunciation — a period of intense discipline that culminated in Kevala Jñāna, absolute knowledge. This episode examines:• The meaning of tapas in the Dharmic traditions• Mahāvīra’s life as an itinerant ascetic across ancient India• The psychology of restraint, silence, and meditation• The conquest of ego, attachment, and fear• The philosophical significance of Kevala Jñāna in Jain rnessplined awakening in the 6th century BCE, highlighting the śramaṇa quest for freedom from karmic bondage and the realisation of the soul’s infinite potential. About the Presenter: Dr. Pankaj Jain is Director of The India Centre and Professor & Head of Humanities & Languages at FLAME University. Author of Jainism: From Bhagwan Mahavira to Mahatma Gandhi (2025), he is a Fulbright-Nehru Fellow and internationally recognised scholar of Dharma traditions, sustainability, and Indian intellectual history.

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Mahāvīra’s Twelve Years of Tapas The Path to Kevala Jñāna is an episode from Discover India Podcast by Professor Pankaj Jain, Ph.D. by Prof Pankaj Jain.

This episode is 00:06:02 long.

This episode was published on Mar 29, 2026.

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