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CHAPTER FIVE
Birth of Neminātha (170-186) Now in Srīšauryapura Samudravijaya's wife, Sivā, saw fourteen great dreams in the last part of the night: an elephant, bull, lion, Sri, wreath, moon, sun, banner, water-jar, lotus-pond, ocean, aerial car, heap of jewels, and fire. Then on the twelfth day of the dark half of Kärttika the moon being in Tvāşțra (Citrā), Sankha fell from Aparājita and descended into Sivā's womb. There was happiness for hell-inhabitants and a light in the three worlds at that time. For that is a certainty at the kalyāṇas 176 of the Arhats.
When Queen Sivā was awake, she related the dreams to her husband. Krosţuki came there, summoned to be asked the meaning of the dreams. Aflying ascetic came there of his own accord and he was honored by the king, who rose, and was seated on a splendid seat. The muni with Kroșțuki, questioned by the king about the meaning of the dreams, explained, “ Your son will be a Tirthakrt, Lord of Three Worlds.” After this explanation, the sage departed; and the king and queen experienced great joy, as if bathed in nectar. The queen carried the embryo concealed, which conferred happiness, bestowing an increase of beauty and grace on every limb.
At night on the fifth of the white half of Śrāvana, the moon being in Tvāșțra, the queen bore a son, black in color, marked with a conch. The fifty-six Dikkumārīs came from their respective places and performed the birth-rites of Queen Sivā and the Jinendra. Sakra came there in five forms. With one form he took the Lord, and with two the chauris, with one a shining umbrella, and with one twirling the thunderbolt in front of the child like a dancer, he went to the peak of Meru to the rock Atipāņdukambalā.
Purandara sat down on a lion-throne on it and seated the Master on his lap like a splendid lion-throne. Then the sixty-three Indras, beginning with Acyuta, immediately bathed
The 5 important, auspicious occasions in an Arhat's life. See 1,
176 173. n. 147.
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