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one possessing many virtues, would be born to the queen. His name would be famous in all the nine continents.
At that time farmers went to King Siddhartha and said, "We do not know why but the fertility of the land has increased."
Cowherds went and said to the queen, "A miracle ! Cows give more milk. More grass has grown in pastures."
Forest-dwellers said, "The mango-trees are the same but they abound in the yield of mangoes. Plants are bending down with the luxuriance of flowers and trees with the abundance of fruits."
Citizens said, "This is a prosperous year. The occasions of mourning have been few. Pre-mature deaths haven't occurred. We experience more and more a new impulse of joy and vitality."
Hearing this, King Siddhartha said, "If the forecast of the astrologers comes true, a great soul will make himself mainfest in the world. My heart is also stirred with delight, I don't know why."
Queen Trishaladevi said, "My mind is also stirred with joy. Shall we name the child Vardhaman ?" The word Vardhaman itself suggests an increase in the quantity of the good in life.
The great soul now in the mother's womb thought, "My stirrings give indeed great pain to my mother. I shouldn't be a cause of it." Thinking thus, the soul in the womb became stable. It stopped stirring. Mother Trishala's pain in the womb subsided but her mental anxiety increased. She suspected that something inauspicious would happen, wept bitterly and swooned. The whole royal family now was full of sorrow. And, the great soul yet in the mother's womb thought, "What I did for their good, has caused grief." So it began its stirrings, the mother's joy knew no bounds. This happened when the soul had been in the womb for six and a half months. But the great soul was deeply moved at this and thought, "How wonderful is a mother's affection for her child ! The trouble the child causes actually gives her pleasure. In this samsara there is no virtue greater than dedication to one's mother. I am yet in the womb. Mother has not even seen my face. But how much affection she has for me !" At that time Bhagwan Mahavir made up his mind that he would not take initiation during the life-time of his parents. Thus the first lesson Bhagwan Mahavir taught was one should always have feelings of loyalty and of love towards one's mother.
Of the twelve months of the year the month of Chaitra is considered to be the best. Shri Krishna has
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