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68
[Holy Abu
ing with folded hands. (b) On another beam are two monks standing and another monk disciple, bowing down with panchānga-namaskāra, inquires good health; two shravakas stand with folded hands. Then is shown an elephant running after some people who are being scared away (fig. 9).
(15) Cell no. 9, first ceiling shows in relief, five kalyāṇakas (chief auspicious events) in the life of a Jina. In the centre is the figure of a Jina sitting in the midst of his samavasaraņa, with the three fortifications represented by three concentric bands intercepted by four highways and flights of steps leading to the Jina. Next in order is a bigger circular band showing the Mother of a Jina, lying on a cot. On one side of her are shown in a row the fourteen auspicious objects which the Mother of a Jina sees in dreamwhen the Tīrthankara descends into her womb from one of the heavens (this is the first event known as the Chyavana-kalyānaka). In the Janma-Kalyāņaka following, the Indra is shown sitting with the Jina on his lap who is being bathed with pure waters (birth-bath ceremony). The third event, the Dikṣā-kalyāṇaka or Renunciation ceremony is represented here by showing the Jina standing and plucking out his hair. The fourth is the Jñana-Kalvānaka when the Jina obtains the Kevalajñāna, immediate
1 Amongst the prognostic auspicious objects seen in dreams are included : elephant, bull, lion, goddess Shri Lakshmi, a garland of flowers, moon, sun, a banner, a full-vase, lotus-lake, ocean, heavenly-car, heap of jewels and smokeless fire-14 in all. When a Jina is born, 56 celestial nymphs, known as DikKumāris, perform the duties of a nurse. Indra, with his retinue of gods, carries the Jina on top of the mount Meru, performs the birth-bath ceremony and brings the Jina back to the Mother.
In the Dikşa-Kalyāņaka, sometimes the Jina is shown carried in a palanquin, to a garden outside city-gates.
| SR No. | 023259 |
| Book Title | Holy Abu |
| Original Sutra Author | N/A |
| Author | Jayantvijay |
| Publisher | Yashovijay Jain Granthmala |
| Publication Year | 1954 |
| Total Pages | 380 |
| Language | English |
| Classification | Book_English |
| File Size | 14 MB |