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Life of Lord Mahävira
33
the Puranic story of the transfer of the embryo of Krisna from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohiņi. This incident regarding the transfer of the womb has been discredited by the Digambaras.
H. JACOBI thinks that Siddhārtha had two wives, the Brāhmaṇi Devānandā, the real mother of Mahavira, and the Kshatriyāni Trišala. The name Rişabhadatta has been invented by the Jainas in order to provide Devānanda with another husband. Siddhartha was connected with persons of high rank and great influence through his marriage with Trišalā. It was, therefore, profitable, if not probable, to give out that Mahavira was the son, and not merely the step-son, of Trišala, for the reason that he should be entitled to the patronage of her relations. The Jainas' preference for Kshatriyas rather than for Brāhmaṇas is also proved by this curious legend.1 In the Bhagavali Sītra, there is no mention of the change of Mahāvīra's embryo, and Devānandā has been stated to be the mother of Maltāvīra. It is reasonable to assume that Rişabhadatta and Devānandã were original parents of Mahāvira, but they might have given Mahāvira to Siddhartha and Trišali to be adopted by them.
Before birth, Mahāvīra's mother is said to have seen a number of dreams. According to the Svetāmbaras, they numbered fourteen. These fourteen dreams, according to the Kalpa Sütra, were (1) an elephant; (2) a bull; (3) a lion; (4) the anointing of the goodess Sri; (5) a garland; (6) the moon; (7) the sun; (8) a flag; (9) a vase; (10) a lotus lake; (11) an ocean; (12) a celestial abode; (13) a heap of jewels and (14) a flame. The Digambaras, who describe sixieen dreams, insert the visions of a throne of diamonds and rubies, and also of a great king of the gods divelling bclow the carth. They also assert that she saw the sun before she dreamt about the moon. In place of a flag, they affirm that she saw two fishes. Theyalso assert that she witnessed two vases instead of one, filled with pure water. The interpreters forcold that the child would bccoinc either a universal monarch or a prophet possessing all possible knowledge. Since it is a lcgendary account, it is
1. Sne, XXII, p. xxxi, f. n. 2.
