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PĀRSVA
flowers from the wish-fulfilling trees in the celestial gardens of the gods, showers of clear water of the sweetest fragrance, divine sounds from the great drums of the most auspicious rainclouds, and the sweet music of the singing of the deities of the shy. The splendor of Benarcs increased a thousand sold and the joy of the people knew no bounds. For such are the portents that always signal the beginning of the cosmnic sau cd ceremonies that celebrate the appearance on carth of a Tīrthankara. The entire world rejoices and participates, with the gods, as chorus, glorifying cach sublime event in this great culinina. tion of the life-monad's career to perfection, omniscience, and release.
On a supicmely auspicious night, the lovely Queen Vāmā creamı fourteen auspicious dreams, and the moment King Aśvasena was informed of them he understood that his son would be a savior-cither a Cakravartin or a Tīrtharkara. The pure monad came down to the royal womb of its last carthly mother in the auspicious spring month known as Vaišākha,l” descending amidst celestial celebrations, and the moment it imparted life to the embryo, which had already been three months in the womb (this being the moment of its reception of its own lifc), the thrones of all the Indras trembled in the heavens and the expectant mother cxpcrienced the first motion of her child. The deities came down in palatial acrial cars, and, entering the royal city, celebrated the First Kalyāņa, "the salutary event of the enlivening of the embryo through the descent of the lifemonad into its material body" (garbha-kalyāna). Scaring the king and queen on thrones, they joyfully poured sacred water on them from a golden pitcher, offering prayers to the great being within the womb; and Benares resounded with divine music. The foremost goddesses of heaven were delegated to care for the pregnant lady; and to please her they would converse with her on various entertaining themes. For example, they would play12 A lunar month corresponding partly to April, partly to May.
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