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Jainism: The Cosmic Vision
"In the fifth dream, you saw a lion caught in a difficult situation. It signifies that in future, Jain religion propounded by an attachment-free omniscient saint and as brilliant and vigorous as a lion, will suffer a severe set-back and become very weak. Having turned their face away from true Jain religion, the people will accept wrong religious views. Such people will gain reputation and their wrong views will greatly gain ground."
"In the sixth dream, you saw a lotus. It suggests that in future under the influence of evil times, even persons of noble birth will keep company of the wicked and vicious persons; as a result of it, they will abandon the right path of religion and will indulge in evil activities."
"In the seventh dream, you saw a seed. It means that in future the Jain householders, having lost their differentiating and discriminating power, will give donations to the nondeserving persons, neglecting and abandoning the deserving ones, just as a thoughtless farmer sows excellent seeds in barren land and rotten seeds in fertile land."
"In the eighth dream, you saw a pitcher. It signifies that in future it will be very difficult to find Jain monks endowed with meritorious qualities and observing rightly and strictly the monastic vows and rules."
While interpreting the dreams of king Punyapala, Tirthankara Mahavira drew a very vivid picture of the future. After that he gave an account of conditions prevailing at that time in his days as also of those that will take shape in future. He said, "When a tirthankara (in this context, Mahavira) is present in a country in this context India, that is, Bharat), that
Predictions of Tirthankara Mahavira country flourishes with wealth, prosperity, crops, etc. in abundance. Its cities and villages look like heavens. A village looks like a city, and a city looks like a heavenly world. A head of the family becomes as prosperous as a king, and a king becomes as prosperous as Kuber, the treasurer of gods. Acharyas are as brilliant as Indra, the lord of gods. Mothersin-law shower love on their daughters-in-law as do mothers on their daughters. Fathers-in-law have unbound affection for their daughters-in-law. The people are wise, prudent, judicious and polite. They are devoted to the Supreme Soul, spiritual teacher and true religion. The learned are honoured. And kings are mostly Jain devotees."
While predicting conditions of the future Ages he said, "In future, a tirthankara, a universal ruler, an excellent hero (Vasudeva), etc. will not be born in India. Pure knowledge (omniscience), perception of thoughts of other's mind and the highest type of clairvoyance will disappear from India. On their disappearance, conditions of India will deteriorate progressively. The intensity of passions like anger, pride, deceitfulness, greed, etc. will gradually increase. Unrighteousness and immorality will grow, and prudence and humility will wane. The strong will harass the weak as a big fish devours a small one. Like a ship without sails, India will become unsteady and shaky in all spheres. Theft will thrive. Rulers will levy heavy taxes. Judges will accept fat bribes. Man will hanker after material objects for sensual pleasures."
"All decency of teacher-pupil relationship will disappear. Teachers will not teach the secret of their subjects / sciences to their pupils, and pupils also will not serve and respect their teachers. Malignant microbes and insects will appear and
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