Vardhamana Mahavira's parents were followers of ________ order. He was the 23^rd Jain Tirthankara, a historical figure who flourished 250 years before Mahavira.

Mahavira's parents (King Siddhartha and Queen Trishala) were followers of Parsvanatha's order. Parsvanatha was the 23rd Tirthankara who lived about 250 years before Mahavira (the 24th Tirthankara). This established the historical continuity of Jainism. Adinatha was the first Tirthankara, Rishabhanatha is another name for Adinatha, and Neminatha was the 22nd Tirthankara.