Final answer:
The founder of Buddhism and contemporaneous religious figure is Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. Siddhartha Gautama, or the Buddha, pursued enlightenment and established Buddhism around the fifth century BCE. His teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path led to the spread of Buddhism across Asia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The founder of Buddhism was a contemporary of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism. The correct answer is 3. mahavira. Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, lived in India around the fifth century BCE. He was a prince from the small kingdom of Shakya, located in today's Nepal. Disillusioned by the suffering he saw in the world, he abandoned a life of luxury in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment.
After years of ascetic practices, he found the 'Middle Way' and achieved enlightenment. He then began teaching others how to escape the cycle of suffering through the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. His teachings led to the foundation of Buddhism, which spread throughout Asia and became one of the major religions in the world.