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Svayambhūstotra
APPENDIX-2
LIFE-STORY OF THE TWENTY-FOUR TIRTHANKARA
Lord Rşabhanātha
When the third period (suşamā-duşamā) of the present descending (avasarpiņī) half-cycle was approaching its end, the illustrious Queen Marudevī, wife of Lord Nābhirāja, dreamt sixteen wonderful and most auspicious dreams*: 1) She first saw a white mighty elephant the sound of whose
voice was like thunder and whose trunk was moist with
temple-fluid. 2) She next saw a magnificent bull, whiter than the petals of the
lotus and having a beautiful form. 3) She then saw a ferocious, white lion possessing immense
strength and with thick cluster of hairs on the neck. 4) She saw Goddess Laksmī's anointment (abhişeka) with water
out of golden pitchers, by two large guardian elephants. 5) She saw two garlands of fragrant flowers over which were
hovering black bees intoxicated with the fragrance. 6) She next saw the full moon surrounded by stars. 7) The seventh dream consisted in the sight of the radiant, rising
sun in the east, obscuring the lustre of all other lights. 8) The eighth dream saw two fishes playing gloriously in a lovely
pool of water, full of lotuses. 9) She saw two golden pitchers with lotuses on the top. 10) She saw an effulgent lake filled with water shining like liquid
gold due to the floating remains of yellow lotus leaves.
*Such splendid and pious dreams are seen by the Mother of every
Tīrthankara as He enters the womb, at the end of His previous incarnation
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