Walk With Me

Author(s): Chandanaji Acharya, Vastupal Parikh
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 54

Walk With Me
"Oh, how else could the Maharaja react? How else would anyone react to such wonderful news? In fact, Maharaja was already ecstatic by the time Maharani Trishala finished telling him about her first dream. In the end, he said, "Maharani, I am overjoyed with your dreams, and feel so lucky! Your dreams tell me that you will soon be known as the greatest mother on earth. A great soul will be born as your child. Not only will he bring fame and fortune to our family, but he will also be like a beacon of light to the suffering humanity. He will bring comfort and solace to all living beings. I can't wait to announce this news to the entire world. I will call my ministers in the morning and ask them to spread the news and prepare for grand celebrations. We will call great pundits and the whole world would know what a fortunate mother you are!'
The queen was even more thrilled to see the king's exuberance. After bidding goodnight to the king, she returned to her chamber and sat in her bed. Unable to sleep, she was absorbed in her thoughts. "How fortunate I am that such a wonderful child is in my womb! Bhagwan Parshvanath*, let me never forget this moment. Let all my dreams come true. I promise that I will raise him to be your greatest devotee." The queen was praying and awaiting the morning.
A few months went by, and as the baby in her womb grew, the queen looked ever more radiant. Soon the great moment arrived! It was the 13th night of the waxing moon of the month of Chaitra♦. The
*
Sramans, the predecessors of Jains and Buddhists, have a series of 24 Tirthankars. Mahavir is the last i.e. the 24th an Parshvanath was his predecessor, the 23rd, some 250 years before Mahavir.
According to the Indian calend: .
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