Nirvana is a concept in Indian religions, the extinguishing of the passions which is the ultimate state of soteriological release and the liberation from duḥkha ('suffering') and saṃsāra, the cycle of birth and rebirth.
Traditional mural painting depicting Gautama Buddha entering parinirvana, Dharma assembly pavilion, Wat Botum Wattey Reacheveraram, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Kalpasutra folio on Mahavira Nirvana. Note the crescent shaped Siddhashila, a place where all siddhas reside after nirvana.
Rishabhanatha, believed to have lived millions of years ago, was the first Tirthankara to attain nirvana.
Buddhism, also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and philosophical tradition based on teachings attributed to the Buddha. It is the world's fourth-largest religion, with over 520 million followers, known as Buddhists, who comprise seven percent of the global population. Buddhism originated in the eastern Gangetic plain as a śramaṇa–movement in the 5th century BCE, and gradually spread throughout much of Asia via the Silk Road.
Mayadevi Temple marking the Buddha's birthplace in Lumbini
Enlightenment of Buddha, Kushan dynasty, late 2nd to early 3rd century CE, Gandhara
The Buddha teaching the Four Noble Truths. Sanskrit manuscript. Nalanda, Bihar, India
Traditional Tibetan Buddhist Thangka depicting the Wheel of Life with its six realms
