________________
202
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SŪTRA [Ch. IV elephant, and a white bull in dream and one loses wealth, if he passes urine or red stool in dream.
The Ävaśyaka Cūrņi' refers to the dream-vision of the ascetic Bambhagutta that a stranger drank his milk kept in a bowl. It was interpreted thus that some body would come to him to learn the sacred lore.
It is also learnt from the birth-story of Lord Mahāvīrra related by the Kal pa Sútra” that the fourteen great dreams as enumerated in the Bhs were dreamt by his mother, Trišalā at the time of her conception.
In the Nāyādhammakahäo" also a similar tale is narrated thus that the queen Dhāriņī beheld a big elephant entering into her mouth in her dreams-vision during the time of her conception of the future child, Meghakumāra in her womb.
This story reminds one of the birth of Lord Buddha in the womb of his mother, Māyā" by entering into it in the form of a white elephant which is represented in sculpture on the Bhārut Stüpa and elsewhere.
The evidences of general belief in dreams as revealed in the Jaina texts are also supported by the Buddhist works. Thus it is found in the Mahāsupinu Jātaka that Pasenndi propitiates to avert the effect of his sixteen bad dreams experienced in one night as they, according to the interpretations of the Brāhmanas indicated that great dangers would befall on his kingdom or treasure or life. Maintenance of Pregnancy
The Bhs throws a welcome light upon the course of nourishing the embryo of a child followed by a mother to nourish it in her womb during the period of her pregnancy which is the most delicate and dangerous time of the women's life.
Thus it is stated here that having learnt the result of her auspicious dream from her husband, king Bala, that she would
1 Āvaśyaka Curni p, 274. 8 Nāyādhammakahão 1, p. 8 ff.: 6 Mahāsupina Jātaka, 1, 77.
? Kalpa Sutra 4. 66-87. 4 Nidānakatha 1, p. 50 ff. 6 Bhs. 11, 11, 428.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
