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BIRTH CELEBRATIONS OF PARSHVA
In Varanasi city of Kashi state ruled king Ashvasen. In his cavalry there were horses of many breeds and colours. People far and wide talked — “The cavalry of king Ashvasen is astonishing and indomitable."
The name of the wife of king Ashvasen was Vamadevi.
It was the fourth day of the first fortnight of the first month of the summer season. In other words, the fourth day of the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra. At midnight when the moon entered the Vishakha constellation, Suvarnabahu god descended from Pranat Dev Lok, having a maximum life span of twenty Sagaropam, into the womb of mother Vamadevi.
Mother Vamadevi dozing in the comfort of her bed saw fourteen great dreams including the elephant and the bull. She at once got up and recalled the dreams. She went to her husband and described the dreams.
The king said — "Queen ! These great and auspicious dreams indicate that some highly meritorious soul has come into your womb."
In the morning the king called scholarly dream-diviners to his court.
On the basis of their knowledge of the scriptures the scholars deliberated and said — “Sire! The queen has seen very auspicious dreams. This indicates the birth of an extremely lucky son in your family. When he grows up he will either be a Chakravarti, the lord of the land in all the four directions, or a Tirthankar, the overlord of the three worlds, the religious Chakravarti Jineshvar.
In due course the queen gave birth to a beautiful child on the tenth day of the dark half of the month of Paush. For a moment the whole universe was filled with a divine glow. Every living being experienced a unique delight for a moment.
The whole atmosphere naturally became clean, enjoyable and fragrant. Although lifeless, all the ten directions became joyous. At the birth of the Tirthankar
the fifty six Dikkumaris (goddesses of directions) residing in different directions trembled. With their divine knowledge they saw that a Tirthankar has taken birth on the earth. Pleased to know of the birth of Bhagavan they came to the earth, paid homage to Bhagavan and his mother, and said — “O mother with a divine womb! Please allow us to perform the post-birth rituals for the saviour of the world."
The fifty six Dikkumaris performed the post-birth rituals and celebrated the birth of Bhagavan after giving him a bath. When the birth ceremonies were over the throne of Shakrendra (the king of gods) trembled.
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BHAGAVAN PARSHVA NAATH
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