mother of Mahavira, the most recent of the Tirthankaras (“Ford-makers,” i.e., saviours) of Jainism, a religion of India. Trishala, like the mother of the Buddha, was a member of the Kshatriya (warrior) caste. According to Jain tradition, Trishala lived some 2,500 years ago and, like the mothers of all 24 Tirthankaras, had a series of 14 auspicious dreams during pregnancy that revealed her son's exalted status.