Tirthankar Mahavir

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

Page 39

Acharya Shri Kailassagarsun Gyanmandir
hands, reflecting the beauty around them. Those from the west waved fans while those from the North had special fans, made from the long white hair of chamari cows, that were gracefully waved to and fro. Thus, they undertook their duty in the purifying rites of child birth.
These heavenly girls then constructed three plantain dwellings and four quadrangles were placed between them. In the first quadrangle, the child's body was rubbed with oily and fragrant substances. In the second, he was bathed in pure water and sprinkled with perfumes and in the third space, his body was anointed with sandalwood paste. Then, in the fourth quadrangle, the mother and and chile were seated on thrones while the nymphs performed dances and dramas, played musical instruments and sang sweet devotional songs. It was such a sight to see that not even a poet could have imagined it. After having praised the tirthankara and showed their devotion to him, the divine nymphs returned to their places.
The rejoicings at the birth of Mahavira
The Boundless Joy of Shakra Indra
The fifty-six divine nymphs celebrated the birth of the tirthankara with an inner joy and heartfelt devotion and were not the only celestial beings to rejoice. At the time of the birth, the thrones of various gods of different classes, in different celestial regions, many miles away, felt the tremor, indicating the birth of a tirthanakar. Thrones in the lowest heavenly region of the nether world were affected by the tremors and it was here that Shakra Indra, Lord of the celestial world of Saudharma, knew that the birth of a tirthankara had taken place on the earth.
He immediately prepared himself and asked the God in charge of the Sughosha bell to ring it vigorously. He undertook his journey at once, accompanied by many other gods and goddesses. He had enthusiastically informed the gods that a supreme soul was born on earth and urged them to pay their respect to the tirthankara, salute him