Question

tirthankaras were there before mahavira explain

Answer 1

there were 21 tirthankar in jain dharma and vardaman mahavir is 21

Answer 2

Lord Mahavir was the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of the Jain religion. According to Jain philosophy, all Tirthankaras were born as human beings but they have attained a state of perfection or enlightenment through meditation and self realization. They are the Gods of Jains.