Marudevī was the mother of the first Jain
Tirthankara
In Jainism, a ''Tirthankara'' (Sanskrit: '; English: literally a 'ford-maker') is a saviour and spiritual teacher of the ''dharma'' (righteous path). The word ''tirthankara'' signifies the founder of a '' tirtha'', which is a fordable passag ...
,
Rishabhanatha
Rishabhanatha, also ( sa, ऋषभदेव), Rishabhadeva, or Ikshvaku is the first (Supreme preacher) of Jainism and establisher of Ikshvaku dynasty. He was the first of twenty-four teachers in the present half-cycle of time in Jain c ...
and the queen of King
Nabhi
King Nabhi or Nabhi Rai was the 14th or the last '' Kulakara'' of '' avasarpini'' (the descending half of the cosmic time cycle in Jainism and the one in which the world is said to be at present). He was the father of Rishabhanatha, the first ' ...
.
Birth of Rishabhanatha
The enlivening of the embryo through the descent of the future Tīrthankara's soul in the mortal body is celebrated as ''Garbha Kalyānaka'' At this time, Queen Marudevi dreamt
sixteen auspicious dreams. King Nabhirāja (who was said to be endowed with clairvoyance) explained the significance of these dreams in the morning.
After these sixteen dreams she saw a large, beautiful bull entering her open mouth, indicative of a pious and extraordinary soul entering her womb.
In literature
Marudevi is mentioned in the Hindu scripture ''
Bhagavata Purana
The ''Bhagavata Purana'' ( sa, भागवतपुराण; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' or simply ''Bhagavata'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen great Puranas (''Mahapuranas''). Composed in Sa ...
'' as mother of Rishabhanatha.
See also
References
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Jainism and women
Rishabhanatha