Jain Journal 1973 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 31

188
JAIN JOURNAL
hundred-thousands of offerings, gave and arranged to give hundreds, thousands, and hundred-thousands of presentations and of hundreds, thousands and hundred thousands of portions of property; and also received and arranged to receive hundreds, thousands and hundredthousands of presents. 103
On the first day, the parents of Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira performed the 'sthiti-pratijyā ceremony, on the third day, they showed him the sun and the moon ; on the sixth day, they observed the superstitious vigil ; and on the eleventh day, they performed operations and ceremonies for the removal of impurities caused by the child birth; and on the twelfth day, they prepared plenty of food, drinks, dainties and spiced dishes. Having prepared these, they invited their friends, relations, kinsmen, agnates, cognates and followers, together with the Jnatri-ksatriyas, themselves took bath, made offerings, performed auspicious rights and expiatory acts, put on auspicious and best robes, and few but costly ornaments, and on the arrival of the dinner time, assembled in the dining hall, sat on the best of cushions, and together with their friends, relations, kinsmen, agnates, cognates, followers, and Jnatriksatriyas, they partook, ate, tasted and interchanged bits of a large collection of food, drinks, dainties and spiced dishes. 104
When the dinner was over, they cleaned their mouth and teeth and mouth again, became clean, and assembled all, (in their outer hall) and having honoured and adored friends, relations, kinsmen, agnates, cognates, followers and Jnatri-ksatriyas, with plenty of flowers, garments, perfumed wreaths and ornaments, and said unto them : 105
"Oh the beloved of the gods! Formerly, when this our boy was lodged in the womb, in our mind, we formulated and held the following very ardent prayer: 'From the time that this our boy has been begotten, our silver has increased and so our gold, wealth, ... till all things of substance, and so also love and amity; and even our vassals have duly submitted to our suzereignty. 106
“So when this our boy will be born, we shall suitably name this worthy one, endowed with all high qualities, as 'Vardhamana'. Now, to-day, all our wishes have reached their fruition, and so our boy may henceforth be known as “Vardhamana'.” 107
Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira belonged to the Kasyapa line. Three names were given to him. They were : Vardhamana by his parents, Sramana for his great equipoise against love as well as hatred, and Sramana Bhagavan Mahavira by the celestial beings for his steadfastness