The lion symbolizes Mahavira, 24th/last Tirthankara (6th-century BCE, Kshatriya Jain family: mother Trishala, father Siddhartha). At 30, he renounced worldly life to seek enlightenment, becoming an ascetic. After 12.5 years of meditation/austerities, he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). He taught vows of ahimsa, Satya, Asteya, Brahmacharya, Aparigraha. Typically depicted meditating with a lion sign below.