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Trishalamata's
Dreams and Mahavir Jayanti Celebration
Swapna Darshan Ceremony occurs on the 5th day of Paryushan (Shwetambar) and celebrates the birth of Mahavirswami and Queen Trishala's Dreams. (This is different from Mahavir Jayanti). Queen Trishala, Lord Mahavir's mother, saw the following 14* beautiful and auspicious symbolic dreams at midnight after conception. 1. Elephant 2. Bull 3. Lion 4. Goddess Laxmi 5. Garland of Flowers 6. Full Moon 7. Sun 8. Large Flag 9. Silver Urn 10. Lotus‑Lake 11. Milky‑Sea 12. Celestial (Air) Plane 13. Heap of Gems 14. Smokeless Fire 15. Pair of Fish* 16. Lofty Throne
*According to Digambar tradition, Queen Trishala saw these two additional dream as well, totaling 16 auspicious dreams. After having fourteen such wonderful dreams, Queen Trishala woke up filled with curiosity and wonder. She had never had such dreams before. She told King Siddhartha about them and he called soothsayers to interpret the dreams. They unanimously said, "Sir, Her Highness will be blessed with a noble son. The dream augurs the vast spiritual realm, the child shall command. Her Highness will become the Universal Mother." Click here to learn more about the Dreams and their representations. After nine months and fourteen days, Queen Trishala delivered a baby boy, who was named Vardhaman, meaning ever increasing. Immediately after the birth of Prince Vardhaman, Indra (the King of Heaven), arriving with other gods and goddesses, hypnotized the whole city including Trishalamata and King Siddharth. He took the baby Vardhaman to mount Meru and bathed him. He proclaimed peace and harmony by reciting BRUHAT SHANTI during the first bathing ceremony of the newborn Tirthankara. Years later, after his renunciation and realization of Absolute self-knowledge, Prince Vardhaman became Lord Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara. Thus, during Paryushan, Mahavir swami's birth is celebrated through the Swapna Darshan ceremony of his mother's dreams. |