Final answer:
The assertion that Mahavira founded Jainism is false; he was the 24th and last Tirthankara, a vital figure who revitalized the existing religion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Mahavira was the founder of Jainism' is false. Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the 24th and last Tirthankara (spiritual teacher) of Jainism. He is a very significant figure in Jainism but not the founder. The religion itself is believed to be timeless, with no beginning or single founder, and its origins trace back to the ancient pre-Vedic times. Mahavira was born in the 6th century BCE and was a contemporary of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. Mahavira, like all Tirthankaras before him, revitalized and preached the Jain philosophy and tenets, which focus on non-violence, truth, and asceticism.