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90 )
[The Twenty-two Tirthankaràs
Gajapur, whose names were Visvasena and Achira respectively. He enjoyed his domestic life for seventy five thousand years, after which, he entered the order of monks in a garden in the vicinity of his own capital on the fourth Full Moon day of Jyeshtha. He attained Kevala-Jnana on the ninth New Moon day of Pausha, one year after his consecration. He observed his vow of asceticism for twentty five thousand years. In the end, when all his karmans were utterly destroyed, he attained the highest bliss of Liberation on the thirteenth Full Moon day of Jyeshtha. ! Before he came into the womb of his mother, a kind of epidemic had been prevailing in Hastinapura and its abjacent places. With his coming into the womb, the disease disappeared altogether and it was on account of this celestial virtue in him that he was named as Shantinathaji (Lord of peace ). When he was in the prime of his life, he was married with a very kind hearted lady, named Yasomati. She was as beautiful and virtuous as she was learned and wise. Shantinatha conquered the six Khandas ( continents ) of Bharatakshetra and became the fifth emperor.
One day queen Yashomati dreamt of a Chakra (Disc or wheel ) entering into her mouth. She told this dream to her husband, who, after musing on its significance for a long time, found out its antecedents. He said to her, "In my previous life, Dridha Ratha was a brother to me. At present. he is in 'Sarvartha Siddhi. ( Fifth anuttara celestial abode where the gods who are to attain salvation after one birth reside ). He himself will be born to us as our son, in a few days. When Dridha Ratha was living in this world, I was reigning as king Megha Ratha of Pundarikini in the Maha
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