Tirthankar Mahavir

Author(s): Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: Jaybhikkhu Sahitya Trust

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Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
performs an inauspicious action will no doubt experience in the future it's inauspicious consequence. In her previous birth, Devananda performed an inauspicious act and thus she suffered the consequences. After bearing in her womb the embryo of the supreme soul for eighty two days, she was forced to lose it. In such a way, gain was converted to loss.
Significance of Fourteen Auspicious Dreams
Queen Trishala, in her half-waken state had a vision and experienced fourteen dreams. She told her husband, Siddartha, who at once summoned the dream-interpreters. The interpretation was as follows.
In the first dream, she had a vision of a four-tusked elephant entering her mouth. The elephant was as white as a cloud after rain, a necklace of pearls, a milky ocean and a moonbeam. It had a gait as dignified as Airavata, Lord Indra's elephant. Its trumpeting call was as sonorous as the thundering sound of lightening. It was adorned with auspicious bodily signs. This dream signified that male child born to Trishala would be the supreme preacher and propounder of the fourfold law. This law governs the conduct of monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen.
In the second dream, Trishala saw a bull that was whiter than a white lotus. The hull had an attractive hump with short, soft, hair covering its body. It had muscular limbs with well shaped and proportioned bones. The bull's teeth were bright and free from defect. The dream suggested that the son would lift up the Chariot of Law or religion that had sunk in the mud of lawlessness. He would preach the law and Religion.
In her third dream, Trishala saw a lon that was as white as a milky ocean. Its teeth were sharp and had a strong and stout jaw. Its eyes rolled, surrounded by a long and dignified mane. The lion had a large, strong chest and thighs, with sharp pointed claws. The lion's appearance was pleasing and serene. The dream signified that the new child would calm passions and protect those beings that are capable of ultimate release (Moksha) - just as a lion destroys mad elephants, protecting the jungle from devastation. He would bc unequalled in fearlessness, bravery, generosity and nobility.
In the fourth dream, Trishala had a vision of Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The Goddess was seated among 12,050,120 Lotuses. She was adorned with beautifu. jewellery. Her ears shown with the ear ornaments dangling down to her shoulders. Her eyes were