While the stories of Mahavira and the Legend of Buddha Shakyamuni have a lot in common, one important difference between them is:1. While the Buddha is said to be the child of a king, Mahavira grows up in the household of a lower-class merchant2. Unlike the Buddha, Mahavira only leaves his household to pursue enlightenment after completing his dharma as a householder3. Unlike the Buddha, Mahavira's ascetic practice is presented as following the tradition of a long line of spiritual "conquerors" of the world of samsara4. Mahavira was said to be born with complete knowledge, while the Buddha only obtained this knowledge through a number of experiences.

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