Introduction to Jainism

Author(s): Rudi Jansma, Sneh Rani Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 34

INTRODUCTION TO JAINISM only take care of themselves, physically as well as mentally, but also made the choice to pursue "good works," which means purposely undertaking spiritual works and making an effort to liberate themselves from illusions. The worldly Rishabha Nabhiraja married Queen Marudevi, and they had a beautiful son who was as strong as a bull, and therefore they gave him the name of Rishabha. He had descended into his mother's womb at an auspicious astrological time. He was also born under the same constellation. All important events in his life took place when the moon was in the same zodiacal sign. This splendid baby was destined to become the first Tirthamkara of our great cycle." Before he was born, his mother - just like the mother of the other Tirthamkaras and the Buddha, and as also reported from other cultures around the world - had a number of noble, excellent, blessed, promising and happy Great Dreams, fourteen or sixteen in total.' First she dreamt of a strong bull - and that is also the meaning of the name Rishabha;!4 and then of an elephant, a lion, a lotus pond, and a divine vehicle (vimana), of smokeless fire, etc. Of course all these dreams have a meaning. Apart from the dream types of Freud, Jung and Adler etc., which are the products of suppressed desires or are of an archetypal nature - Indian literature also distinguishes the prophetic dream, and the true dream. In addition, twenty Great Dreams are described in Indian literature,"s which are related to divine matters. To this class belong the dreams of Queen Marudevi and those of the physical mothers of other divine incarnations. Rishabha consciously entered a physical womb with compassion and, due to the merit he had earned in earlier lives, incarnated to help humankind and all living beings. Out of compassion he even took birth without causing pain to mother. Before and after their birth they are compassionate by nature. Jain literature mentions that the divinity Indra knows when a powerful soul is coming to human life six months