Auspicious dreams in Jainism
{{Short description|14 or 16 dreams depicted in Jainism}}
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File:Chyavana Kalyanaka from Kalpasutra Queen Trishala's dream.jpgAuspicious dreams are often described in texts of Jainism which forecast the virtue of children. Their number varies according to different traditions and they described frequently as fourteen or sixteen dreams.{{cite web|url=http://www.jainpedia.org/themes/principles/holy-symbols/dreams/contentpage/1.html |title=Article: Dreams |publisher=jainpedia.org |work=Institute of Jainology |author=Balbir, Nalini |date=29 October 2020 |pages=1–4 }} They are seen by mothers of the prominent figures in Jainism including Tirthankaras, on the conception of their soul in the womb. They are interpreted as describing virtues and kingship of a future child. They are also found in various artistic media as an ornamentation.
Dreams
Their number and description differ according to major traditions of Jainism. According to Digambara tradition, there are 16 dreams while according to Śvetāmbara tradition, there are 14 dreams. Most of them are same. They are described in detail as dreams of queen Trishala, mother of Mahavira, in some Jain texts.{{cite web | url=http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/affiliates/jainism/ritual/14dreams.htm | title=Fourteen Auspicious Dreams of Mother Trishala | publisher=www.fas.harvard.edu | work=Jain Study Center of North Carolina | author=Shah, Pravin}}{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|1998|p=180}}{{sfn|Quinn|2009|p=270}}{{sfn|Jain|Fischer|1978|pp=4–6}}{{sfn|Pruthi|2004|pp=62–66}}{{cite web | url=http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=74790 | title=The Dreams of Queen Trishala | work=www.herenow4u.net | date=2010-09-22 }}
| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|+ Auspicious dreams | ||||
| No. Digambara | No. Śvetāmbara !Name | Image | Dream | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | File:14dreams elephant.png | White elephant with four tusks, similar to the elephant of the god Indra | Mother would give birth to a child with good character. The four tusk of elephant depicts the four components of Sangha: monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. |
| 2 | 2
|Vrishabha | File:14dreams 05.png | Bull | The dream foretold the birth of a great religious Teacher who would spread the light of knowledge.{{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2015|pp=178–179}} |
| 3 | 3
|Simha | File:14dreams lion.png | Lion | Power, strength and fearlessness. The child will be strong as the lion, in overcoming all enemies. |
| 4 | 4 | File:Laxmi in dreams (Jainism).png | The goddess of wealth, Lakshmi or Shri | Wealth and prosperity |
| 5 | 5
|Phul-mala | File:14dreams garlands.png | Pair of garlands | Popularity and respect |
| 6 | 6 | File:14dreams moon.png | Moon | Peace and help to others |
| 7 | 7 | File:14 dreams sun.png | Sun | Supreme knowledge |
| - | 8
|Dhvaja | File:14 dreams flag.png | Flag with lion pictured on it flying on golden stick | Leadership |
| 8 | -
|Meena-yugma | File:8th auspicious dream.jpg | Pair of fishes | Handsomeness |
| 9 | 9
|Purna Kalasha | File:14 dreams vase.png]] | Full jug / pair of full vases with lotuses | Perfect in virtues and would be full of compassion for all living beings. The kalasha is considered auspicious in Dharmic religions. |
| 10 | 10
|Padma Sarovar | File:14 dreams lake.png | Lotus pond / celestial lake | Detachment from worldly possessions |
| 11 | 11
|Ratnakar | File:14 dreams ocean.png | Ocean / rough ocean | Achievement of infinite perception and knowledge, spiritual liberation |
| 12 | 12
|Simhasana | File:12th_Auspicious_dream.jpg | Large, resplendent, golden throne set with bright diamonds and rubies | Son will become the World Teacher{{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2015|pp=178–179}} |
| 13 | 12
|Deva-Vimana | File:14 dreams celestrial palace.png]] | Celestial cheriot palace | Angels in heaven would respect, honor his spiritual teachings |
| 14 | -
|Palace | File:14th Auspicious dream.jpg | The rising residence of Nāgendra, the lord of the devas of the Nāgakumāra clan{{sfn|Vijay K. Jain|2015|pp=178–179}} | Child will be born with clairvoyance |
| 15 | 13
|Ratnadhag | File:14 dreams jewel heap.png | Heap of jewels | Virtues and wisdom |
| 16 | 14
|Nirdhumra Agni | File:14 dreams smokeless fire.png | Smokeless fire | Reform and restoration of religious order. He would burn his karmas and attain salvation. |
These dreams features animals, objects and a goddess associated with positive virtues and kingship. They are generally considered positive symbols in Indian culture so they frequently appear in other Indian religions like Buddhism and Hinduism.
Importance
= In texts =
These dreams are connected with the births of Tirthankaras and the other prominent people including Chakravarti, Balabhadra/Baladeva and Vāsudeva in Jainism. They are 63 in total and called Shalakapurusha. Their mothers see a certain number of dreams on conception of their soul in womb. They are described in the great detail in Kalpasutra. 12th century Jain monk Hemchandracharya described and interpreted them in detail in Trishashthishalakapurush. Avashyak-niryukti, an early verse-commentary in Prakrit, explains relation of names of some Tirthankaras and these dreams.
| class="wikitable"
|+Foretelling as per Kalpasutra | |
| Number of dreams | What it foretells |
|---|---|
| 14 dreams | birth of a future Tirthankara or Chakravarti (universal monarch) |
| 7 of the 14 dreams | birth of a future Vāsudeva |
| 4 of the 14 dreams | birth of a future Baladeva/Balabhadra |
| 1 of the 14 dreams | birth of a future Mandalika (king) |
= Festivals =
On the fifth day of festival of Paryusana, Jain monks read or narrate the portion of the Kalpasutra dealing with birth of last Tirthankara Mahavira, to the Jain lay people. They are displayed to the people in the form of silver models and auctioned for temporary possession and display to other people for festive days.
= Other =
References
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Sources
- {{citation |last1=Jain |first1=Jyotindra |author-link=Jyotindra Jain |last2=Fischer |first2=Eberhard |author-link2=Eberhard Fischer |title=Jaina Iconography |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mbXwopoqITIC |date=1978 |publisher=Brill Publishers |isbn=978-90-04-05259-8 }}
- {{citation |last=Jain |first=Vijay K. |author-link=Vijay K. Jain |title=Acarya Samantabhadra's Svayambhustotra: Adoration of The Twenty-four Tirthankara |date=2015 |publisher=Vikalp Printers |isbn=978-81-903639-7-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xI8HBgAAQBAJ |quote={{PD-notice}} |ref={{sfnref|Vijay K. Jain|2015}} }}
- {{citation |last=Pruthi |first=Raj |author-link=Raj Pruthi |title=Jainism And Indian Civilization : Culture and civilization series |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LlqOvvJJnugC |publisher=Discovery Publishing House |date=2004 |isbn=9788171417964 }}
- {{citation |last=Quinn |first=Edward |author-link=Edward Quinn |title=Critical Companion to George Orwell Encyclopedia of World Religions Series |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hZET2sSUVsgC |publisher=Infobase Publishing |date=2009 |isbn=9781438108735 }}
- {{citation |last=Shah |first=Natubhai |author-link=Natubhai Shah |title=Jainism: the world of conquerors |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g120RG8GkHAC |publisher=Sussex Academic Press |date=1998 |isbn=9781898723318 |volume=2 |ref={{sfnref|Natubhai Shah|1998}} }}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=74790 The Dreams of Queen Trishala]
- [http://www.cs.colostate.edu/~malaiya/j/dreams16/Dreams16.html Dreams of mother of Tirthankara]
- [http://www.jainpedia.org/themes/principles/holy-symbols/dreams/contentpage/1.html Dreams in Jainism -Jainpedia]
- [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jai/index.htm Description on Sacred-Texts]
{{Jainism topics}}