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Strip no. 75 depicts mother Shivadevi and the birth of Bhagawan Neminath. Harinaigameshi vehicles Bhagawan, together with the group of other gods on Mountain Meru, the chariot of the marriage party, the cattle-camp, the Chauri (a square decorated structure where marriage ceremony is performed.) the hair-plucking ceremony, acceptance of such hair by Indra-all this is shown symbolically in the strip. One remarkable fact about this strip is that ordinarily Bhagawan who is one day old is taken by Maharaja Indra on the Mountain Meru, from the bedroom of the mother while here that right is shown to have been given to Harinaigameshi. Scriptures have noted such alternatives. Strip no. 76 shows Devaloka (the abode of gods).
77-78. The strip of 24 symbols of 24 Tirthankares according to the Shwetambar. Digambar concept
In 77th strip the illustrations of 24 symbols are given according to Shwetambar concept for identifications of 24 Tirthankaras. The icons of 24 Tirthankaras have imaginary from. To identify the icon of a particular Tirthankara its symbol has been fixed. About the creation of such symbols the scriptures have mentioned that when a Tirthankara is born he has such a symbol on his right thigh, made with the skin of the thigh. As days pass this figure is enlarged and when an occasion arises for making the icon this symbolic figure is carved out under the icon of Tirthankara. In this strip the 24 symbols of 24 Tirthankaras, as fixed by the scriptures are illustrated.
On account of which Karmas such figures are formed on the thighs? Why, except for eight figures, all the remaining symbols are of animals, birds etc.? Though these are superhuman personages, why such figures are formed on the thighs? All this is amazing. Who else, except the enlightened one can solve these mysteries?
Strip number 78 is about 24 symbols of 24 Tirthankaras, according to Digambar concept and have minor difference about the symbols as per Shwetambar concepts.
79. The strip about Jainam Jayati Shasanam
This strip is about the Victory of Jain diocese. As this book concludes an auspicious prayer is offered here for the victory of Jain diocese.
Strip number 79. being the concluding strip shows the motto: Jainam Jayati Shasanam (Victorious be Jains for order established by Tirthankaras).
80. The strip on the inner title page showing various postures (Mudras) at the time of the sermon The second edition was completely printed and lastly when the inner title page was left over, I thought that a strip about alternatives should be prepared and presented as there are alternatives about postures (Mudras) and the seats adopted by Tirthankaras at the time of sermonising, so that the students of this subject may be satisfied and the inner title page may be beautiful. That strip is printed on the inner title page because it was necessary to print this strip on the inner title page. In this strip seven figures are given. The figures on both the sides of the middle figure are the same. So, if we look from the realistic view only four Mudras are presented here (see figures 1 to 4). As no definite conclusion is arrived at about the position of the arms and the legs, this strip is given. Another remarkable thing shown in this strip is that four types of lotuses are shown for the seat. Divine umbrellas are shown on all these figures but on the last two figures Ashoka tree is shown as a symbol to give the idea about Samavasarana (divine auditorium). As Tirthankara spreads great enlightenment small lamps are shown between the divine umbrellas. To show that this strip is separate from the inner strip and that Tirthankaradevas predominantly preach to give up violence and possessiveness the two words - Ahimsa and Aparigraha are got written at the two ends of both the words and to maintain the balance of the whole border and to embellish it the design of flowers and flashes of light is shown. The strip would be better understood by those who observe it.
Thus concluded the introduction to 80 strips given in the third edition.
અશોક વૃક્ષ
શાલ વૃક્ષ
અશોકવૃક દરેક તીર્થકરોનું એક જ સરખું હોય છે. અહીંયા અશોકવૃક્ષનાં પાંદડાં અને ઝાડ બતાવવામાં આવેલ છે. અશોકનાં વૃક્ષ ભારતમાં બહુ ઓછાં છે અને ઓછા સ્થળે છે. સાચી માણિતીના અભાવે આચાર્ય, સાધુઓ સહિત તદન જન જનતાનો મોટોભાગ આસોપાલવને જ અશોક સમજી બેઠો છે જે ખોટું છે.
ચરક સંહિતામાં અશોકના ચાલીસેક નામો મળે છે. તેમાં ૨કતપલ્લવ નામ હોવાથી તેના માત્ર પાંદડાં લાલ હતાં એમ સૂચવે છે, તો શું અશોકના પાંદડાં લાલ અને લીલાં બે જાતના હશે ?
કવિ કાલિદાસે કાવ્યમાં અશોકના પુપને લાલ જણાવ્યાં છે, જે આજે ધરતી ઉપરના ઉપલબ્ધ અશોકમાં છે જ. દેવો જે અશોક બનાવે છે તે દૈવિક શકિતથી બનાવે છે તેથી તે કૃત્રિમ હોય છે.
શાલવૃક્ષનો સંક્ષિપ્ત પરિચય શાલવૃક્ષ ઉત્તર ભારત તથા બિહાર, બંગાલ તરફ જોવા મળે છે. આ વૃક્ષ નીચે ભગવાનને કેવળજ્ઞાન (ત્રિકાળજ્ઞાન) થયું હતું. તેથી આ વૃક ચંત્યજ્ઞાનવૃક્ષ કહેવાય છે. દરેક તીર્થકરને કેવળજ્ઞાન જુદાં જુદાં વૃક્ષ નીચે થાય છે અને જે વૃક્ષ નીચે કેવળજ્ઞાન થાય તે વૃક્ષ અશોકવૃક્ષની ઉપર દેવો સ્થાપિત કરે છે.
અશોકવૃક્ષનો સંક્ષિપ્ત પરિચય દરેક તીર્થકરોને કેવળજ્ઞાન થતાંની સાથે દેવો ભકિતથી અષ્ટમહાપ્રાતિહાર્યની રચના કરે છે, તે પૈકી એક પ્રાતિહાર્ય અશોકનું છે. એ જ વૃક્ષ નીચે બેસીને તીર્થંકરો દેશના આપે છે.
201.
મા.
અને તે
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