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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Samavasaran : The Holy Assembly Hall
It was the tenth day of the bright half of the month of Vaishakha of the year 557 B. C. The sun was setting and the twilight cast its shadow over earth. On the bank of the river Rujuvalika Mahavira had just attained pure knowledge and pure vision. He became worthy of being worshipped with eight extraordinary divine objects (pratiharyas). The term "pratihara' means harbinger. Objects which are presented to a tirthankara by gods appointed by Indra are called pratiharya. The eight pratiharya are: the Ashoka tree, a shower of divine flowers, divine sound, a special fan prepared from the long hair of chamari cows, a throne a halo, a divine drum and a white umbrella. These objects represent the presence of a tirthankara.
Gods overwhelmed with joy arrived to celebrate the fourth auspicious occasion in the life of the tirthankara Mahavira. They bowed to him. It is a universal rule that when a tir:hankara attains pure knowledge and pure vision he halts for forty eight minutes at the place of attainment and delivers his first sermon on the observance of non-violence and self-restraint.
The gods constructed a holy assembly hall for the first sermon of Tirthankara Mahavira. The construction of the holy assembly hall is a unique occasion. It is eagerly awaited by gods, demons and men. Indra with his retinue arrives there and personally supervises the construction of the assembly hall. Wind-gods remove dirt, debris and thorns from the ground. Rain-gods sprinkle fragrant water on it and make it sweet-smelling. The presiding gods of all the six seasons shower flowers of five colours. The vyantara gods prepare a plinth nearly two miles in lieight, shining with gold and jewels. The bhuvanapati gods construct a silver fort ten thousand steps in height and make the ground of the fort level. The jyotishi gods construct a golden fort five thousand steps in height.
The holy assembly hall has three forts. Each fort has four entrances. The forts contain beautiful parks with gardens of flowers, holy temples, fluttering banners and decorative statues of the eight auspicious objects. They have gods or goddesses as gate-keepers. In the first fort there is the parking space for vehicles. In the second tort there is the assembly place for animals and birds like lions, tigers, goats, peacocks. The third fort accommodates human beings, gods and goddesses. In the middle of this third fort there is an Ashoka tree adorned with flower-garlands, flags, arches and an umbrella. Under it there are four thrones facing four quarters. Gods, goddesses, humans, animals and birds too come in this assembly hall to listen to the first sermon of a tirthankara. On two sides of a throne there stand two gods holding two special fans. In front of each throne there is a wheel of Religion or Law on a golden lotus. In each of the four directions there is a grand flag on a very
tall post. 110
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