Chapter 10 – Dreams of Mother Trishalä

Tirthankar Mahävir’s soul was a heavenly god in the tenth heaven before being born as Prince Vardhamän.   At midnight on the sixth day of the bright half of Ashädh, his Äyushya Karma ended, and so did his life as a heavenly god (Dev).   His soul transmigrated to earth and was conceived in the womb of a Brahmin lady named Devananda.   That night Devananda had 14 unique dreams.   She woke up and told her husband about the dreams.   He told her that their son would be a great one and gifted with many virtues.    82 days later, on the thirteenth day of the month of Äso, Saudharma Indra, the King of heavenly gods was in his court.   His throne started shaking, so he used his special power (Avadhijnän), through which he can see distant things.  He learned that Lord Mahävir’s soul had been conceived in Devananda’s womb who belongs to Brahmin caste.   For a moment he was puzzled, but then he realized that this was  the  result  of  Lord  Mahävir’s  Gotra  (caste  or  social  standing)  karma  from  his  previous life.   In the life of Marichi (3rd  life), Lord Mahävir bragged about his race (caste), indicating that his race is the best among all other races existed then (At that time in India, Brahmins earn their living by performing religious rituals for warrior caste people such as king.   Hence it was considered that the warrior caste is the best among all other castes).

 

However Indra said to himself, “Tirthankar may be conceived in any caste due to his/her Karma but he/she must born in a Kshatriya (warrior) caste.  It is the characteristics of a warrior caste to fight against evils.   Mahävir’s soul must take a birth in a warrior caste so that he will be able to fight his Karma until he attains Kevaljnän.  I will move his soul (fetus) to a Kshatriya family.”   He summoned Angel Hari Naigamesin to his court and                  commanded him to migrate the  fetus  from  the  womb of  Devananda  to  the  womb  of  Queen Trishalä,  the  wife  of  King Siddhärtha, and to migrate Queen Trishalä’s fetus in Devananda’s womb. 

Angel Hari Naigamesin left the court of King Saudharma Indra to go to Devananda’s home. With his divine speed, he soon arrived at the bedside of Devananda and paid his reverence to the soul of Lord Mahävir.   With his divine power, he put Devananda into a deep sleep, removed the fetus and then left to go to Queen Trishalä’s palace.

Again with his divine speed, he reached Queen Trishalä’s palace within a very short time. He used his divine power to put Queen Trishalä into a deep sleep and then he performed the exchange of the fetuses.   Once again, he paid reverence to Lord Mahävir’s soul.   Then he left with the fetus of Queen Trishalä and went to Devananda’s home to replace the fetus in her womb.   (Digambar sect believes that Mahävir was conceived by queen Trishalä and not by Devanda).   That night, Queen Trishalä had the fourteen great dreams (sixteen dreams as per Digambar tradition).   The dreams filled her with immense wonder and joy.   She woke her husband, King Siddhärtha and told him what she saw in the dreams.   He told her that those dreams seemed very auspicious.   The next day, King Siddhärtha summoned scholars to his court and asked them about the meaning of these dreams.

01 Elephant

The first dream Queen Trishalä had was of an Elephant.   It was big, tall, and had four tusks.   It was an auspicious elephant endowed with all the desirable marks of excellence.

This dream indicated that she would give birth to a child with exceptionally high character.   The four tusks signified that he would guide the spiritual chariot with its four components: monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen.

02 Bull

The second dream Queen Trishalä had was of a Bull.   The bull was noble, grand, and had a majestic hump.   It had fine, bright and soft hairs on its body.   Its horns were superb and sharply pointed.

This dream indicated that her son would be highly religious and  a  great  spiritual  teacher.    He  would  help  cultivate  the religion.

03 Lion

The  third  dream  Queen  Trishalä  had  was  of  a  Magnificent Lion.  His claws were beautiful and well poised.  The lion had a  large  well  rounded  head  and  sharp  teeth.    His  lips  were perfect and his eyes were sharp and glowing.   His tail was impressively long and well shaped. The Queen saw this lion descending towards her and entering her mouth.

This dream indicated that her son would be as powerful and strong as the lion.   He would be fearless, almighty, and capable of ruling the world.

04 Goddess Laxmi

The  fourth  dream  Queen Trishalä  had  was  of  the  Goddess Laxmi, the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and power.  She was seated on a lotus and wore many rows of pearls interlaced with emeralds and a garland of gold.  A pair of earrings hung over her shoulders with dazzling beauty.

This dream indicated that her son would enjoy great wealth and splendor.   He would be a Tirthankar, the supreme benefactor of all.

05 Garland

The fifth dream Queen Trishalä had was of a Beautiful Garland descending from the sky.   It smelled of mixed fragrances of different flowers.  The flowers bloomed during the different seasons.   The whole universe was filled with their fragrance.

This dream indicated that the fragrance of her son’s teachings will spread throughout the universe, and he would be respected by all.

06 Full Moon

The sixth dream Queen Trishalä had was of a Full Moon.   It was a very auspicious sight.   The moon was at its full glory. It made the lilies bloom fully.

This dream indicated that the child would help lessen the suffering  of  the  all  living  beings.    He  would  bring  peace  to the  world.    He  would  help  the  spiritual  progress  of  entire humanity at large.

07 Bright Sun

The seventh dream Queen Trishalä had was of the Bright Sun. The sun was shining to destroy the darkness.  It was as bright as the flames of the forest fire.   The sun rose and ended the evil activities of the creatures who thrive at night.

This dream indicated that her son would have the supreme knowledge and would dispel the darkness of delusions

08 Flag

The eighth dream Queen Trishalä had was of a Large Flag flying on a golden pole.   The flag fluttered softly and auspiciously in the gentle breeze.   It attracted everyone’s attention.   A radiant lion was pictured on it.

This dream indicated that her son would carry the banner of the religion.  He would reinstate religious order throughout the universe.

09 Golden Vase

The ninth dream Queen Trishalä had was of a Golden Vase filled with the clear water.  It was a magnificent, beautiful, and bright vase.   It was decorated with a garland.

This  dream  indicated  that  her  son  would  be  perfect  in  all virtues and would be full of compassion for all living beings. He would be a supreme religious personality.

10 Lotus Lake

The tenth dream Queen Trishalä had was of a Lake full of Lotuses.   Thousands of lotuses were floating in the lake, and they all bloomed and opened at the touch of the sun’s rays. The lotuses had a very sweet fragrance.

This dream indicated that her son would be beyond worldly attachment.   He would help liberate human beings who were tangled in the cycle of birth, death, and misery.

11 Ocean

The eleventh dream Queen Trishalä had was of an Ocean.  Its water rose in all directions to great heights.  The wind blew gently and created the waves.

This dream indicated that her son would have a serene and pleasant personality.  He would achieve infinite perception and knowledge and would escape from worldly life, which is the ocean of birth and death and the misery.  This would lead his soul to the Moksha (liberation).

12 Celestial Plane

The  twelfth  dream  Queen  Trishalä  had  was  of  a  Celestial plane.   The plane resounded with celestial music.   It was full of the pleasant and spiritual aroma of the incense.

This  dream  indicated  that  all  of  the  Angels  in  the  heaven would respect, honor, and salute her son’s spiritual teachings.

13 Heap of Jewels

The thirteenth dream Queen Trishalä had was of a big heap of various jewels.

This dream indicated that her son would have infinite virtues and wisdom and he would attain the supreme spirit.

14 Smokeless Fire

The fourteenth dream Queen Trishalä had was of a Smokeless Fire.   The fire burned with great intensity, but there was no smoke.

This dream indicated that her son would reform and restore religious order.   He would remove blind faith and orthodox rituals.  Furthermore, he would burn or destroy his karmas and attain salvation.

Additional Dreams as per Digambar Tradition

Digambar scriptures indicate that Queen Trishalä had sixteen dreams.

15 Pair of Fish

 

The fifteenth dream was of a Pair of Fish, which indicated that her son would be extremely handsome.

16 Lofty Throne

 

The sixteenth dream was of a Lofty Throne, which indicated that her son would have a very high spiritual status.

The meaning of all these dreams is that the child to be born would  be  very  strong,  courageous,  and  full  of  virtues.                                                        He would be very religious and would become a great king or a spiritual  leader.    He  would  reform  and  restore  the  religious order and guide all the creatures of the universe to attain salvation.   He would also be liberated.   As a matter of fact, all Tirthankars’ mother have same dreams.

Lord  Mahävir  was  born  on  the  thirteenth  day  of  the  bright  half  of  the  month  Chaitra,  five hundred and forty-three years before the Vikram Era (Hindu calendar), or in 599 BC.