Auspicious dreams are often described in texts of Jainism which forecast the virtue of children. Their number varies according to different traditions and they described frequently as fourteen or sixteen dreams. [1] They are seen by mothers of the prominent figures in Jainism including Tirthankaras, on the conception of their soul in the womb. They are interpreted as describing virtues and kingship of a future child. They are also found in various artistic media as an ornamentation.
Their number and description differ according to major traditions of Jainism. According to Digambara tradition, there are 16 dreams while according to Śvetāmbara tradition, there are 14 dreams. Most of them are same. They are described in detail as dreams of queen Trishala, mother of Mahavira, in some Jain texts. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]
| No. Digambara | No. Śvetāmbara | Name | Image | Dream | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Airavata |  | White elephant with four tusks, similar to the elephant of the god Indra | Mother would give birth to a child with good character. The four tusk of elephant depicts the four components of Sangha: monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. |
| 2 | 2 | Vrishabha |  | Bull | The dream foretold the birth of a great religious Teacher who would spread the light of knowledge. [8] |
| 3 | 3 | Simha |  | Lion | Power, strength and fearlessness. The child will be strong as the lion, in overcoming all enemies. |
| 4 | 4 | Lakshmi |  | The goddess of wealth, Lakshmi or Shri | Wealth and prosperity |
| 5 | 5 | Phul-mala |  | Pair of garlands | Popularity and respect |
| 6 | 6 | Chandra |  | Moon | Peace and help to others |
| 7 | 7 | Surya |  | Sun | Supreme knowledge |
| - | 8 | Dhvaja |  | Flag with lion pictured on it flying on golden stick | Leadership |
| 8 | - | Meena-yugma |  | Pair of fishes | Handsomeness |
| 9 | 9 | Purna Kalasha |  | Full jug / pair of full vases with lotuses | Perfect in virtues and would be full of compassion for all living beings. The kalasha is considered auspicious in Dharmic religions. |
| 10 | 10 | Padma Sarovar |  | Lotus pond / celestial lake | Detachment from worldly possessions |
| 11 | 11 | Ratnakar |  | Ocean / rough ocean | Achievement of infinite perception and knowledge, spiritual liberation |
| 12 | 12 | Simhasana |  | Large, resplendent, golden throne set with bright diamonds and rubies | Son will become the World Teacher [8] |
| 13 | 12 | Deva-Vimana |  | Celestial cheriot palace | Angels in heaven would respect, honor his spiritual teachings |
| 14 | - | Palace |  | The rising residence of Nāgendra, the lord of the devas of the Nāgakumāra clan [8] | Child will be born with clairvoyance |
| 15 | 13 | Ratnadhag |  | Heap of jewels | Virtues and wisdom |
| 16 | 14 | Nirdhumra Agni |  | Smokeless fire | Reform and restoration of religious order. He would burn his karmas and attain salvation. |
These dreams features animals, objects and a goddess associated with positive virtues and kingship. They are generally considered positive symbols in Indian culture so they frequently appear in other Indian religions like Buddhism and Hinduism. [1]
These dreams are connected with the births of Tirthankaras and the other prominent people including Chakravarti , Balabhadra/Baladeva and Vāsudeva in Jainism. They are 63 in total and called Shalakapurusha . Their mothers see a certain number of dreams on conception of their soul in womb. They are described in the great detail in Kalpasutra. [1] [7] 12th century Jain monk Hemchandracharya described and interpreted them in detail in Trishashthishalakapurush. Avashyak-niryukti, an early verse-commentary in Prakrit, explains relation of names of some Tirthankaras and these dreams. [1]
| Number of dreams | What it foretells |
|---|---|
| 14 dreams | birth of a future Tirthankara or Chakravarti (universal monarch) |
| 7 of the 14 dreams | birth of a future Vāsudeva |
| 4 of the 14 dreams | birth of a future Baladeva/Balabhadra |
| 1 of the 14 dreams | birth of a future Mandalika (king) |
On the fifth day of festival of Paryusana, Jain monks read or narrate the portion of the Kalpasutra dealing with birth of last Tirthankara Mahavira , to the Jain lay people. They are displayed to the people in the form of silver models and auctioned for temporary possession and display to other people for festive days. [1]
These dreams are symbolised and found in artistic media like paintings in manuscripts and on its covers, books, ornamentation in stone carvings, invitation scrolls and temple furnitures. [1] [3]
Mahavira, also known as Vardhamana, was the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism. He was the spiritual successor of the 23rd Tirthankara Parshvanatha. Mahavira was born in the early 6th century BCE to a royal Kshatriya Jain family of ancient India. His mother's name was Trishala and his father's name was Siddhartha. According to the second chapter of the Śvētāmbara Ācārāṅga Sūtra, Siddhartha and his family were devotees of Parshvanatha. Mahavira abandoned all worldly possessions at the age of about 30 and left home in pursuit of spiritual awakening, becoming an ascetic. Mahavira practiced intense meditation and severe austerities for twelve and a half years, after which he attained Kevala Jnana (omniscience). He preached for 30 years and attained moksha (liberation) in the 6th century BCE, although the year varies by sect.
Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is one of the most important religious festivals in Jainism. It celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of present Avasarpiṇī. On the Gregorian calendar, the holiday occurs either in March or April.
In Jainism, a Tirthankara is a saviour and supreme preacher of the dharma. The word tirthankara signifies the founder of a tirtha, a fordable passage across saṃsāra, the sea of interminable birth and death. According to Jains, tirthankaras are the supreme preachers of dharma, who have conquered saṃsāra on their own and made a path for others to follow. After understanding the true nature of the self or soul, the Tīrthaṅkara attains kevala jnana (omniscience). A Tirthankara provides a bridge for others to follow them from saṃsāra to moksha (liberation).
Ācārya Bhadrabāhu was, according to both the Śvetāmbara and Digambara sects of Jainism, the last Shruta Kevalin in Jainism.
Rishabhanatha, also Rishabhadeva, Rishabha or Ikshvaku, is the first tirthankara of Jainism. He was the first of twenty-four teachers in the present half-cycle of time in Jain cosmology, and called a "ford maker" because his teachings helped one cross the sea of interminable rebirths and deaths. The legends depict him as having lived millions of years ago. He was the spiritual successor of Sampratti Bhagwan, the last Tirthankara of the previous time cycle. He is also known as Ādinātha, as well as Adishvara, Yugadideva, Prathamarajeshwara and Nabheya. He is also known as Ikshvaku, establisher of the Ikshvaku dynasty. Along with Mahavira, Parshvanath, Neminath, and Shantinath, Rishabhanatha is one of the five Tirthankaras that attract the most devotional worship among the Jains.
Trishala, also known as Videhadatta, Priyakarini, or Trishala Mata, was the mother of Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, and wife of the Gaṇa Mukhya, Siddhartha of Kundagrama, of present-day Bihar. She finds mention in the Jain texts.
Śāntinātha or Śānti is the sixteenth Tīrthaṅkara of Jainism in the present age. According to traditional accounts, he was born to King Vishvasena and Queen Aćira of the Ikshvaku dynasty in the north Indian city of Hastinapur. His birth date is the thirteenth day of the Jyest Krishna month of the Indian calendar. He was also a Chakravarti and a Kamadeva. He ascended to the throne when he was 25 years old. After over 25,000 years on the throne, he became a Jain monk and started his penance.
Munisuvrata or Munisuvratanatha was the twentieth Tirthankara of the present half time cycle (avasarpini) in Jain cosmology. He became a siddha, a liberated soul which has destroyed all of his karma. Events of the Jaina version of Ramayana are placed at the time of Munisuvrata. Munisuvrata lived for over 30,000 years. His chief apostle (gaṇadhara) was sage Malli Svāmi.
Neminātha, also known as Nemi and Ariṣṭanemi, is the twenty-second tirthankara of Jainism in the present age. Neminath lived 81,000 years before the 23rd Tirthankar Parshvanath. According to traditional accounts, he was born to King Samudravijaya and Queen Shivadevi of the Yadu dynasty in the north Indian city of Sauripura. His birth date was the fifth day of Shravan Shukla of the Jain calendar. Balarama and Krishna, who were the 9th and last Baladeva and Vasudeva respectively, were his first cousins.
King Nabhi or Nabhi Rai was the 14th or the last Kulakara of avasarpini. He was the father of Rishabhanatha, the first tirthankara of present avasarpini. According to Jain text Ādi purāṇa, Nabhirāja lived for 1 crore purva and his height was 525 dhanusha.
Sudharmaswami was the fifth ganadhara of Mahavira. All the current Jain acharyas and monks follow his rule.
A Pattavali, Sthaviravali or Theravali, is a record of a spiritual lineage of heads of monastic orders. They are thus spiritual genealogies. It is generally presumed that two successive names are teacher and pupil. The term is applicable for all Indian religions, but is generally used for Jain monastic orders.
Gautama Swami, born as Indrabhuti Gautama was the first Ganadhara of Mahavira, the 24th and last Jain Tirthankara of present half cycle of time. He is also referred to as Guru Gautama, Gautama Ganadhara, and Ganadhara Gautama Swami.
According to the Jain cosmology, the Śalākāpuruṣa "illustrious or worthy persons" are 63 illustrious beings who appear during each half-time cycle. They are also known as the triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣa. The Jain universal or legendary history is a compilation of the deeds of these illustrious persons. Their life stories are said to be most inspiring.
Digambara is one of the two major schools of Jainism, the other being Śvetāmbara (white-clad). The Sanskrit word Digambara means "sky-clad", referring to their traditional monastic practice of neither possessing nor wearing any clothes.
Panch Kalyanaka are the five chief auspicious events that occur in the life of tirthankara in Jainism. They are commemorated as part of many Jain rituals and festivals.
Jainism is an Indian religion which is traditionally believed to be propagated by twenty-four spiritual teachers known as tirthankara. Broadly, Jainism is divided into two major schools of thought, Digambara and Śvetāmbara. These are further divided into different sub-sects and traditions. While there are differences in practices, the core philosophy and main principles of each sect is the same.
In Jainism, Bharata was the first chakravartin of the Avasarpini. He was the eldest son of Rishabhanatha, the first tirthankara. He had two sons from his chief-empress Subhadra, named Arkakirti and Marichi. He is said to have conquered all six parts of the world and to have engaged in a fight with Bahubali, his brother, to conquer the last remaining city of the world.
Jain festivals occur on designated days of the year. Jain festivals are either related to life events of Tirthankara or they are performed with intention of purification of soul.
Samantabhadra was a Digambara acharya who lived about the later part of the second century CE. He was a proponent of the Jaina doctrine of Anekantavada. The Ratnakaranda śrāvakācāra is the most popular work of Samantabhadra. Samantabhadra lived after Umaswami but before Pujyapada.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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