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and in a very dangerous valley on an inaccessible mountain, he built a celestial city and took shelter there. When King Siddhartha came to know this, he came to that valley with his army, and demanded the surrender of the ear-rings. But Indra was not prepared to oblige him. So there started a war between the two. Although Indra was quite capable to fight, somehow in the present case, he failed to do so for long, and after some time, he took to his heels. King Siddhartha plundered the nymphs. Thereafter. he snatched the ear-rings from Indra's queen and gave them to Trisalā. The queen wore them, and thus her desires were fulfilled.
At the mid-night of the 13th day of the bright half of Caitra, the embryo had completed the stay of 9 months and 71⁄2 day-nights in the womb and was now mature for birth. Mahavira was born in good health. At the time of his birth. (as it happens in the case of the gods,) he was perfectly clean, and had no coat of blood and other dirts. During that night, all the seven stars were high up in the sky and the star Uttara-phalguni was in conjunction with the moon. The universe was lit with a wonderfull light. Heavenly drums sounded in the sky. For a while, even the infernal beings enjoyed a bracing respiration. All the directions were placid pure. All omens forecast victory and success. Wind was blowing gently and favourably. The clouds sent a delightful shower. The landscape was green with corn. The whole country was full of joy.
Celebrations at Birth- At the time of Mahavira's birth, 56 divine damseld (dik-kumaris) came and served as midwives. At the Saudharma -kalpa, the throne of Indra was shaken. By dint of his avadhi knowledge he realised that the final Tirthankara Mahavira had been born. Being highly delighted at this realisation, he set out for KsatriyaKundapura in the company of all members of his family. He had with him four species of gods viz.. the Bhavanapatis. the Vanavyantaras, the Jyotiskas and the Vaimanikas. and many other Indras. All the gods were anxious to be the first to reach King Siddhartha's palace. Indra moved round Mahavira and Trisala thrice and bowed before them. Thereafter, Indra made a dummy of Mahavira and placed it beside the mother. The mother was then hypnotised to sleep, and real Mahavira was carried to the summit of Mount Meru. There all the gods stood in readiness to pour water on him brought from eight sources in 8064 pitcher
