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SYMBOL WORSHIT IN JAINISM
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early specimen of them is available on the door frame of a cell in the Santinătha temple at Khajurāho. There are some more representations of the dreams on the door-frames of different Jaina shrines at Khajuraho.
According to Jaina traditions, mothers of other Salākāpuruşas like the Baladevas, Vāsudevas, and Cakravartins also see a certain number of dreams at the time of conception. 1 According to Svetambara traditions, the mother of a Väsudeva (Nārāyaṇa or Vişnu) sees the following 7 dreams :-( 1 ) Young lion (2) Padınā (Sri) Seated on a lotus, being sprinkled with water by two elephants (3) Sun (4) a pitcher filled with water and having its mouth adorned with white lotuses ( 5 ) an ocean filled with aquatic animals etc. (6) a heap of jewels ( 7 ) smokeless fire. 2 According to the Digambaras, they are:(1) Sun (2) Moon (3) Śri (4) Vimāna (5) Fire (6) Celestial banner (7) Disc made of jewels. 3
The mother of a Baladeva sees the following 4 dreams:-(1) Elephant with four tusks ( 2 ) bull ( 3 ) Moon ( 4 ) a pond filled with lotuses. According to Digambara tradition, they are (1) Moon ( 2 ) elephant (3) ocean (4) Sun. 5
The mother of a Cakravartin sees fourteen dreams like the Mother of a Tirthankara, according to Svetāmbara tradition. According to the other sect, she sees five dreams; ( 1 ) Earth, (2) Sumeru mountain, (3) Sun and Moon, (4) lake with swans and (5) Ocean with surging waves.?
Dreams are auspicious or inauspicious. Mahāvira in his itinerary, before realisation of final knowledge, saw ten dreams which are described along with their meaning by the Sthánānga Sūtra. 8 Belief in dreams is an ancient superstition. It is difficult to say when the section on dreams was introduced in the life of Mahāvira in the Kalpasūtra account, at least the detailed descriptions of
The belief is common to both sects, but the difference in number of dreams would suggest their comparatively later growth.
? Trişasti., parva 4, chp. I, vv. 216-233. Pavitrakalpasūtra., sū. 72 f., text, p. 27.
3 Harivamśa, 35. vv. 11-12, Vol. II. pp. 451-52. Padmacarita, 25. 3. P. 506 notes a different tradition, according to which she sees (1) Lion and (2) Moon only.
4 Trişaşti., op. cit , vv. 167-179.
5 Harivamśa, 32. I-2; p., 412. Padmacarita, 25. 12-15, p. 507 gives a different tradition.
8 Trişasti., 1. 4. vy. 883 ff. (GOS) p. 148. Pavitrakalpasūtra ed. by Muni Punyavijayaji, sū-71, text p. 26 f.
? Harivamśa, 32. 1-2; p. 412. Padmacarita, 25. 12-15, p. 507 gives a different tradition. Mahāpurāņa (Adipurāņa), parva 15, vv. 100-101, PP. 334f;
8 Sthānāngu Sūtra, 10-3. sū. 750, Vol II. pp. 499 ff.
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