Portrait of Jain Religion

Author(s): Narendra Jain
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

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Jain literature also prominently mentions the widely-held belief that all the mothers of various Tirthankars had 16 (Digambar tradition) and 14 (Shwetambar tradition) dreams after conception indicative of the great soul which was going to be born as reflected in the auspicious signs. Thus Mahavir's mother saw in her dream a white elephant, a white bull, a white lion, Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi sitting on a lotus throne, two fragrant garlands, full moon, sun, two golden pots, two fish (Digambar list) or flag (Shwetambar list), lotus pond, ocean, jewel-studded throne (Digambar list), celestial plane, cobra (Digambar list), pile of precious stones, and fire without smoke. Once again these dreams also link symbolically human destiny intertwined with other living beings, auspicious natural objects and items of prosperity. The dream signs also indicate that the new-born would be as strong as an elephant, as ernest as a bull, as powerful as a lion, graceful like the lotus and other flowers, deep as an ocean, and auspicious as a golden pot. It is interesting that out of the 24 Tirthankaras, as many as 20 attained nirvan at Sammed Shikhar in Bihar, which has become one of the most prominent places of Jain pilgrimage. Jain Tirthankars traveled on foot all over the country. The existence of ancient Jain temples with their idols in north, east and west and south India testify to this. Jain art and architecture belonging to different periods of history is found in almost all parts of India and testifies to the widespread prevelence of Jain religion throughout India, In particular the states of Bihar, U.P., Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh abound in places of pilgrimage associated with Tirthankars. Among the most prominent of pilgrimage centers (Teertha Kshetras) are Sammed Shikhar, and Pavapuri in Bihar, Hastinapur near Delhi, Girnar, Nakoda Parshvanath, Shankheshwar Parshvanath, Palitana (Shatrunjaya), Morvi and Shri Taranga Teerth in Gujarat, Dilwara temples at Mt. Abu, ancient temples at Ranakpur, Jaiselmer, Keshariyaji in Rajasthan, Shravanbelgola,
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A Portrait of Jain Religion