Jain Heritage and Beyond

Author(s): Shailesh Shah
Publisher: Oshwal Associations of The UK

Page 67

Adinathji The 1st Tirthankar
It was during the last part of third Ara of the current descending cycle of time that the great and pious soul that was to become Rishabhdev descended into the womb of Marudeva on the fourth day of the dark half of the month of Ashadh during the night.
When this pious soul was conceived, mother Marudeva dreamt of fourteen auspicious things. The first thing she saw in her dream was that a beautiful and large white bull was entering her mouth. The other things she saw in her dream are as follows: 1. A Bull
8. A fluttering Flag, 2. A giant Elephant having four tusks,
9. A golden Urn, A Lion,
10. A Pond full of lotus flowers, Goddess Laxmi seated on a lotus,
11. A space Vehicle of gods, 5. A two Garlands of flowers,
12. An Ocean 6. The full Moon resplendent in the sky,
13. A heap of Gems, 7. The scintillating Sun,
14. Smokeless Fire. Nabhiraja was an experienced and scholarly person. When he heard about these dreams from Marudeva, he said, "Devi! You will give birth to a highly endowed soul who will show the path of peace and happiness to this world".
On the eighth day of the dark half of the month Chaitra, around midnight, healthy Marudeva gave birth to twins. This pious birth influenced the surroundings. The sky became filled with a soothing glow, the wind became fragrant and the whole atmosphere became impregnated with unprecedented joy that was hard to describe.
From all around came the fifty six goddesses of directions. They circumambulated the Tirthankar's mother and bowed before her. They also sang in praise of the child that was to become Tirthankar and then proceeded to perform post-birth cleaning rituals.
The king of gods airlifted the baby to Meru Mountain. There all gods including their 64 kings with their consorts ceremoniously performed the post-birth anointing rituals. This ceremony, popularly known as Janma-kalyanak, of a Tirthankar, is unparalleled in this world.
Next morning Nabhiraja organized the birth celebrations. He invited his friends and relatives to a feast and announced, "As there is a sign of a bull on the thigh of the new born, and Marudeva first of all saw a bull in her great dreams, we name this child as 'Rishabh Kumar'".