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{{Short description|14 or 16 dreams depicted in Jainism}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
[[File:Chyavana Kalyanaka from Kalpasutra Queen Trishala's dream.jpg|thumb|Queen Trishala, Mahavira's mother has 14 auspicious dreams. Folio 4 from Kalpasutra]]'''Auspicious 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'''.<ref name="jpo">{{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 }}</ref> They are seen by mothers of the prominent figures in Jainism including [[Tirthankara]]s, 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 [[Svetambara]] 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.<ref name="jpo" /><ref name="harvard">{{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}}</ref>{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|1998|p=180}}{{sfn|Quinn|2009|p=270}}{{sfn|Jain|Fischer|1978|pp=4–6}}{{sfn|Pruthi|2004|pp=62–66}}<ref name="hnu">{{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 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1"
|+ Auspicious dreams
|-
! No.<br />[[Digambara]] !! No.<br />[[Svetambara]]
!Name!! Image !! Dream !! Interpretation
|-
| 1 || 1
|[[Airavata]]||[[File:14dreams elephant.png|100px|''Airavata'']]|| 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 (Jainism)|Sangha]]: monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen.
|-
| 2 || 2
|Vrishabha||[[File:14dreams 05.png|100px |''Vrishabha'']]|| 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|100px |''Sinha'']]|| Lion || Power, strength and fearlessness. The child will be strong as the lion, in overcoming all enemies.
|-
| 4 || 4
|[[Lakshmi]]||[[File:Laxmi in dreams (Jainism).png|100px |''Laxmi'']]|| The goddess of wealth, Lakshmi or Shri || Wealth and prosperity
|-
| 5 || 5
|Phul-mala||[[File:14dreams garlands.png|100px |''Phulmala'']]|| Pair of garlands || Popularity and respect
|-
| 6 || 6
|[[Chandra]]||[[File:14dreams moon.png|100px |''Purnima Chandra'']]|| Moon || Peace and help to others
|-
| 7 || 7
|[[Surya]]||[[File:14 dreams sun.png|100px |''Surya'']]|| Sun || Supreme knowledge
|-
| - || 8
|Dhvaja||[[File:14 dreams flag.png|100px |''Dhvaja'']]|| Flag with lion pictured on it flying on golden stick || Leadership
|-
| 8 || -
|Meena-yugma|| [[File:8th auspicious dream.jpg|100px |''Meenyugma'']] || Pair of fishes || Handsomeness
|-
| 9 || 9
|Purna [[Kalasha]]||[[File:14 dreams vase.png|100px |''Purna [[Kalasha]]'']] || 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|100px |''Padma Sarovar'']]|| Lotus pond / celestial lake || Detachment from worldly possessions
|-
| 11 || 11
|Ratnakar||[[File:14 dreams ocean.png|100px |''Ratnakar'']]|| Ocean / rough ocean || Achievement of infinite perception and knowledge, spiritual liberation
|-
| 12 || 12
|Simhasana|| [[File:12th_Auspicious_dream.jpg|100px |''Sinhasana'']] || 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|100px |''Dev [[Vimana]]'']]|| Celestial cheriot palace || Angels in heaven would respect, honor his spiritual teachings
|-
| 14 || -
|Palace|| [[File:14th Auspicious dream.jpg|100px |Palace]] || 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|100px |''Ratnadhag'']]|| Heap of jewels || Virtues and wisdom
|-
| 16 || 14
|Nirdhumra Agni||[[File:14 dreams smokeless fire.png|100px |''Nirdhumra Agni'']]|| Smokeless fire || Reform and restoration of religious order. He would burn his [[Karma in Jainism|karma]]s 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]].<ref name="jpo" />

== Importance ==
[[File:Sixteen Symbolic Dreams.jpg|thumb|Sixteen Auspicious Dreams in Jainism]]

=== In texts ===
These dreams are connected with the births of [[Tirthankara]]s and the other prominent people including ''[[Chakravarti (Sanskrit term)|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 [[Kalpa Sūtra|Kalpasutra]].<ref name="jpo"/><ref name="hnu"/> 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 [[Tirthankara]]s and these dreams.<ref name="jpo"/>

{| 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.<ref name="jpo"/>

=== Other ===
[[File:14 dreams.jpg|thumb|Aspicious dreams as an ornamentation on cover of 19th-century manuscript]]
These dreams are symbolised and found in artistic media like paintings in manuscripts and on its covers, books, ornamentation in stone carvings, invitation scrolls and temple furnitures.<ref name="jpo"/>{{sfn|Natubhai Shah|1998|p=180}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

==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}}

[[Category:Jain belief and doctrine]]
[[Category:Dreams in religion]]

Auspicious dreams in Jainism - Revision history

Bharatwiki Socrates at 17:11, 26 November 2023