Triśalā

views updated

Triśalā. Mother of Vardhamāna Mahāvirā. Śvetāmbara sources recount how Triśalā experienced fourteen dreams (the Digambaras claim sixteen) before Mahāvirā's birth, which were portents of the birth of a great teacher. These dreams are recalled today by Jains when they celebrate the five auspicious moments (kalyāṇakas) in Mahāvirā's life, of which the first is conception.