Jaina Culture

SR No.: 011051
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi
Publication Year: 2002
Total Pages: 162
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

Page 110

TRANSMIGRATION
101
charity and practising austerity according to one's capacity, removing obstacles threatening the equanimity of ascetics, serving the meritorious, devotion to omniscient persons, chief preceptors, preceptors and scriptures, practice of the six essential daily duties, propagation of the teachings of the omniscient and fervent affection for one's brethren following the same path. These observances severally as well as together are the causes for the influx of the nama-karma which leads to incarnation as a tirthankara.
The pomp of the tirthankara includes the tree of Asoka, the shower of celestial flowers, the singing of heavenly songs, the waving of fly whisks, the lion-shaped throne, the shining of the halo, the beating of celestial kettle-drums and the umbrella. All these eight things surround him when he preaches. He (the omniscient) knows what is passing in the mind of everyone. He knows what is going on at various times. He sees all the three worlds as if they were in his hands. He is worshipped, adored and saluted by the sixtyfour Indras. He is endowed with thirty-four kinds of extraordinary qualities. He has one thousand and eight auspicious marks. He is free from the eighteen kinds of sin and the four obscuring karmas.
The mother of a tirthankara sees fourteen dreams (dreamobjects) in that night in which his embryo enters her womb: (1) a fine, enormous, white elephant; (2) a tame, auspicious, white bull; (3) a handsome, playful, white lion; (4) the goddess of beauty on the top of Mount Himavat, reposing on a lotus in the lotus-lake, anointed with the water from the strong and large trunks of the guardiau elephants; (5) a garland charmingly interwoven with fresh Mandāra flowers; (6) the moon; (7) the sun; (8) an extremely beautiful and very large flag; (9) a vase filled with pure water and shining with a bouquet of water-lilies; (10) a lotus-lake adorned with water-lilies; (11) the milk-ocean; (12) a celestial car; (13) an enormous heap of jewels; (14) a fire with burning flames.