According to Osho, Mahavira is a great spiritual teacher of the Jain tradition—one among the enlightened masters whose subtle presence can be contacted by seekers. He notes that H. P. Blavatsky attempted to establish communication with many such teachers, and includes Mahavira in that living lineage of guides rather than as a mere historical figure.
Mahavira is a Jain master you can still connect with spiritually, not just someone from the past.