Shri Kundkundacharya
Kundkundacharya was born in 51 BC, in the town of Konda Kund of Andhra Pradesh, India. He became the Jain monk (Sadhu) at the age of 11 and Acharya at the age of 44. He lived for 95 years and died in 44 AD in Kundadri hills (Karnatak, South India). He conferred monkhood to about 700 people during his life time. He is known by various names: Kundkundacharya, Elacharya, Vakragrivacharya, Gruddhapichchhacharya and Padmanandiacharya.
Kundkundacharya spent most of his life in and around Ponnur Hills in TamilNadu (about 120 km from Chennai/Madras). This is the place from where it is believed that because of his vast knowledge, purity of soul and resultant super human powers, he went to Mahavideh Kshetra, an another world, where the present Tirthankar Simandhar Swami resides and preaches. There he got the opportunity to listen to the preaching of Simandhar Swami. This further deepened his spiritual knowledge. After returning, he wrote 84 scriptures describing the true nature of the soul, Karmas, their interactions, world, and nature of basic six elements and clear path of salvation.
Mahavir was a prince, but gave up everything and became ascetic (monk, Sadhu) in search of Truth and to experience his pure soul, at the age of 30. He attained omniscience at the age of 42, after about 12 years of penance, meditation and self-cleansing. He preached for 30 years and left body at the age of 72 to become liberated soul (Siddha).