Because of his great and continual transformations, Mahatma Gandhi is one of the most extraordinary people who ever lived on Earth. From a small, shy, scared child he grew up to be a great, good, and generous man. He lived his life with the guideline that it is better to be truthful to oneself than to try to act like someone else. To be true to oneself is sometimes hard to do. Gandhi was someone who completely succeeded in living his life according to the way in which he believed life should be lived.
In the later years of his life, Gandhi wrote, "From the beginning of time to the end of time, the force of truth and love always wins over violence. With this great force you can bring this world to your feet.”
The first half of the 20th century, the father of India did just that. This is his story – Satyagraha, which means "holding onto truth.”
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born in Porbandar, India, on October 2, 1869.
His father was a prime minister in the prince’s court. His mother was a devout woman who taught her children about their religion, Jainism. Gandhi grew up believing in karma – the idea that to keep a soul clean, one should pray, be disciplined, honest, have few possessions, and harm no one.
The central theme of Jainism considers religion as a science of ethical practice. The ultimate end and purpose of all life and activity is to realize the blissful state of our true being.
Today, we will come to know more about Gandhi’s spiritual roots, the ideals instilled in him as a child. We will explore the principles that mature him over seventy years into the great soul the world remembers.
We begin by introducing you to Lord Mahavira, the twenty-fourth and the last Tirthankara of the Jain religion. Jains do not believe in God. A Tirthankara’s faith has come down from unknown antiquity, professing that all men may become free, perfect, omniscient, omnipotent, and all-blissful by their own efforts inspired by the example of their great teachers. Thus, according to Jain philosophy, all Tirthankaras were born as human beings but have attained a state of perfection or enlightenment through meditation and self realization.
Mahavira was born in 599 B.C. as a prince in Bihar, India. On the eve of his conception, it is said that Lord Mahavira’s mother Queen Trishala had fourteen beautiful and auspicious dreams. These were prophetic visions of the one who would come. These dreams began with the.....
1. Elephant
The first dream Queen Trishala saw was of an elephant. She saw a big, tall, and impetuous elephant. It had two pairs of tusks. The color of the elephant was white and its whiteness was superior to the color of marble. It was an auspicious elephant, and was endowed with all the desirable marks of excellence.
This dream indicates that her son will cultivate will power in his daily choices.
2. Bull
The second dream Queen Trishala saw was of a bull. The color of the bull was also white, but it was brighter than white lotuses. It glowed with beauty and radiated a light all around. It was noble, grand, and had a majestic hump. It had fine, bright, and soft hair on his body. Its horns were superb and sharply-pointed.
This dream means that her son will have the will necessary to carry through with his desires.
3. Lion
The third dream Queen Trishala saw was of a magnificent lion. Its claws were beautiful and well-poised. The lion had a large well-rounded head and extremely sharp teeth. Its lips were perfect, its color was red, and its eyes were sharp and glowing. Its tail was impressively long and well-shaped. Queen Trishala saw this lion descending towards her and entering her mouth.
This dream symbolizes that her son will be as powerful and strong as a lion. He will be fearless, willing to see any situation from all points of view.
4. Laxmi
The fourth dream Queen Trishala saw was of the Laxmi, who signifies wealth, prosperity and power. She was seated at the top of mountain Himalaya. Her feet had a sheen of golden turtle. She had a delicate and soft fingers. Her black hair was tiny, soft, and delicate. She wore rows of pearls interlaced with emeralds and a garland of gold. A pair of earring hung over her shoulders with dazzling beauty. She held a pair of bright lotuses.
This dream signifies that her son will conquer obstacles by valuing the challenges presented to him.
5. Garland of Flowers
The fifth dream Queen Trishala saw was of a celestial garland of flowers descending from the sky. It smelled of mixed fragrances of different flowers. The whole universe was filled with fragrance. The flowers were white and woven into the garland. They bloomed during all different seasons. A swarm of bees flocked to it and they made a humming sound around the region.
This dream indicates that her son will be given many talents that will be helpful in the world.
6. Full Moon
The sixth dream queen Trishala saw was of a full moon. It presented an auspicious sight. The moon was at its full glory. It awoke the lilies to bloom fully. It was bright like a well polished mirror. The moon radiated whiteness like a swan. It inspired the oceans to surge skyward. The beautiful moon looked like a radiant beauty-mark in the sky.
This dream means that her son’s soul will be strong and expressive throughout his life.
7. Sun
The seventh dream Queen Trishala saw was of a huge disc of sun. The sun was shining, and destroying darkness. It was red like the flame of the forest. Lotuses bloomed at its touch. The sun is the lamp of the sky and the lord of planets. The sun rose and put to end to the evil activities of the creatures who thrive at night.
This dream indicates that her son’s desire for truth will conquer ignorance and help him eliminate all bad habits.
8. Large Flag
The eighth dream Queen Trishala saw was of a very large flag flying on a golden stick. The flag fluttered softly and auspiciously in the gentle breeze. It attracted the eyes of all. Peacock feathers decorated its crown. A radiant white lion was on it.
This dream indicates that her son will be great, noble, and a well respected leader.
9. Silver Urn
The ninth dream Queen Trishala saw was of a silver urn (kalash) full of crystal-clear water. It was a magnificent, beautiful, and bright pot. It shone like gold and was a joy to behold. It was garlanded with strings of lotuses and other flowers. The pot was holy and untouched by anything sinful.
This dream means that her son will hold all virtues in the highest esteem, employing them in every experience.
10. Lotus-Lake
The tenth dream Queen Trishala saw was of a lotus lake (padma-sagar). Thousands of lotuses were floating on the lake which opened at the touch of the sun's rays. The lotuses imparted a sweet fragrance. There were swarms of fish in the lake. Its water glowed like flames of fire. The lily-leaves were floating on the water.
This dream indicates that her son will help to liberate the human beings who are tangled in cycles of misery.
11. Milky-sea
The eleventh dream Queen Trishala saw was of a milky sea. Its water swelled out in all directions, rising to great heights with turbulent motions. Winds blew and created waves. A great commotion was created in the sea by huge sea animals. Great rivers fell into the sea, producing huge whirlpools.
This dream symbolizes that her son will fare well in emotional turmoils and physical troubles.
12. Celestial air-plane
The twelfth dream Queen Trishala saw was of a celestial plane. The plane had eight thousands magnificent gold pillars studded with gems. The plane was framed with sheets of gold and garlands of pearls. It was decorated with rows of murals depicting bulls, horses, men, crocodiles, birds, children, deers, elephants, wild animals, and lotus flowers. The plane resounded with celestial music. It was saturated with an intoxicating aroma of incense fumes. It was illuminated with a bright silvery light.
This dream symbolizes the command of Self her son will attain through inner communication and devotion.
13. Heap of Gems
The thirteenth dream Queen Trishala saw was of a great heap of gems, as high as Mount Meru. There were gems and precious stones of all types and kinds. These gems were heaped over the earth and they illuminated the entire sky.
This dream indicates that her son will have infinite virtues and wisdom.
14. Smokeless Fire
The fourteenth dream queen Trishala saw was of a smokeless fire. The fire burned with great intensity and emitted a radiant glow. Great quantities of pure ghee and honey were being poured on the fire. It burned with numerous flames.
This dream indicates that her son will use everything to its fullest with the utmost respect for all life.
After having such fourteen wonderful dreams, Queen Trishala woke up.
Her dreams filled her with wonder. She never had such dreams before. She narrated her dreams to King Siddharth.
The king called the counselors for the interpretation of dreams and they unanimously said, "Sir, her Highness will be blessed with a noble son. The dream augur the vast spiritual realm, the child shall command. Her Highness will become the Universal Mother."
After nine months and fourteen days, Queen Trishala delivered a baby boy. The boy was named Vardhaman meaning "ever increasing.”
At the age of 30, like his contemporary Siddhartha, Vardhaman left his family and royal household, gave up his worldly possessions, including clothing and became a monk. He spent the next twelve years in deep silence and meditation to conquer his desires and feelings. He went without food for long periods. He carefully avoided harming or annoying other living beings including animals, birds, and plants.
His ways of meditation, days of austerities, and mode of behavior furnish a beautiful example for monks and nuns in religious life. His spiritual pursuit lasted for twelve years. At the end he realized perfect perception, knowledge, power, and bliss.
Vardhaman spent the next thirty years traveling on bare feet around India preaching to the people the eternal truth he realized. He attracted people from all walks of life, rich and poor, kings and commoners, men and women, princes and priests, touchables and untouchables. He organized his followers, into a four fold order, monk, nun, layman and laywoman. Later on they became known as Jains, meaning "conquerors” and Vardhaman became known as Mahavira, "the great hero”.
The ultimate objective of Mahavira’s teaching is how one can attain the total freedom from the cycle of birth, life, pain, misery, and death, and achieve the permanent blissful state of one's self. This is also known as liberation or nirvana. He explained that from eternity, every living being (soul) is in bondage of karmic atoms that are accumulated by its own good or bad deeds. Under the influence of karma, the soul is habituated to seek pleasures in materialistic belongings and possessions. Which are the deep rooted causes of self-centered violent thoughts, deeds, anger, hatred, greed, and such other vices. These result in accumulating more karma. He preached that right faith, right knowledge, and right conduct together will help attain the liberation of one's self.
At the age of 72 (527 B.C.), Lord Mahavira died and his purified soul left the body and achieved complete liberation. He became a Siddha, a pure consciousness, a liberated soul
