In Jainism, who is recognised as the twenty fourth and last Tirthankara of the present cycle, and thus regarded as the final great teacher of this series?

Introduction / Context:
Jainism teaches that in each cosmic cycle, a series of Tirthankaras or ford makers appear, who rediscover and teach the path to liberation. In the present cycle, there are traditionally twenty four such Tirthankaras. Questions in general knowledge often ask which of these is the last and most historically well known figure, who lived in the sixth century BCE and played a major role in shaping Jain religion as we know it today.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers specifically to the twenty fourth and last Tirthankara of the current cycle.
• Several names are given, including Parshvanatha, Mahavira and others.
• We assume standard exam level knowledge of Jain religious history.

Concept / Approach:
Parshvanatha is widely accepted as the twenty third Tirthankara, while Mahavira is the twenty fourth and last. Mahavira is also the most historically documented, being a near contemporary of the Buddha. Siddhartha Gautama is the Buddha and belongs to Buddhism, not Jainism. Other names such as Subhadra or Rishabhanatha refer to different figures and cannot be the answer if we are speaking of the last Tirthankara of this cycle.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Jain tradition counts twenty four Tirthankaras in the present time cycle. Step 2: Remember that Rishabhanatha is the first Tirthankara and Parshvanatha is the twenty third. Step 3: Note that Mahavira is recognised as the twenty fourth and last Tirthankara. Step 4: Identify that Siddhartha Gautama is associated with Buddhism, so he cannot be a Jain Tirthankara. Step 5: Choose Mahavira from the options as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling that most exam questions about Jain Tirthankaras revolve around Parshvanatha and Mahavira, with Mahavira consistently described as the twenty fourth and last. Many introductory books on religions state clearly that Mahavira was the last in the series of Jain Tirthankaras and that he systematised Jain teachings for his time.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A, Parshvanatha, was the twenty third Tirthankara, not the last. Option C, Siddhartha Gautama, is the founder of Buddhism and not a Jain teacher. Option D, Subhadra, does not correspond to the last Tirthankara in Jain tradition. Option E, Rishabhanatha, is the first Tirthankara of the current cycle and therefore cannot be the last.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse Parshvanatha and Mahavira because both are prominent Jain figures. Some learners also mix up Jainism and Buddhism and mistakenly pick Siddhartha Gautama. To avoid such confusion, remember the simple sequence that Rishabhanatha is first, Parshvanatha is twenty third and Mahavira is twenty fourth and last in the current cycle.

Final Answer:
The twenty fourth and last Tirthankara of the present cycle in Jainism is Mahavira.