Ashtang Nimitta Ni Zalak

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Ashtang Nimitta ni Zalak" (A Glimpse of the Eight Limbs of Omens):

This book, compiled by Jain University and attributed to "Varshaprabodh and Ashtang Nimitta and Divyajnan," aims to explain the eight types of predictive knowledge (Ashtang Nimitta) as described in Jain scriptures. It asserts that this knowledge is not separate from the fourteen Purvas (ancient Jain texts) but is included within them. However, due to the current era, the full knowledge of the Purvas is not accessible, making the understanding of available Nimitta knowledge crucial. The text highlights the importance of "Angavidya," an extensive work with 8,000 verses, as a comprehensive source on the subject.

The eight types of Nimitta are:

1. Anga sphuran Nimitta (Flickering of Body Parts): This section details how the flickering of specific body parts can indicate future events.

   • General Principle: For males, the right side's flickering is considered auspicious, while for females, it's the left side that is considered auspicious. Conversely, for males, left-side flickering and for females, right-side flickering can indicate negative outcomes.
   • Examples: Flickering of the right side of the head suggests gaining power/authority. Flickering of the right hand signifies meeting a loved one. Flickering of the right eye indicates success in endeavors or losing a lawsuit depending on whether it's the upper or lower part. Flickering of the left eye is generally inauspicious. Specific predictions are given for the ears, eyebrows, forehead, lips, chin, neck, shoulders, chest, stomach, navel, hands, and feet, linking their movements to gains, losses, meetings, disputes, wealth, and even demotion.

2. Swapna Shastra Nimitta (Dream Interpretation): This section focuses on interpreting dreams and their significance.

   • Types of Dreams: Dreams are categorized based on their origin, including experienced events, heard stories, seen objects, natural bodily imbalances (like pitta or vata), spontaneous dreams, and dreams caused by worry. Only dreams influenced by divine inspiration, the power of true Dharma, or the consequence of past karma are considered truly prophetic.
   • Significant Dreams: It lists 72 auspicious dreams, with 14 being the most significant, often experienced by the mothers of Tirthankaras or Chakravartis during conception. These include dreams of an elephant, bull, lion, Goddess Lakshmi, garlands, sun, moon, flags, pots, lotus lakes, oceans, divine vehicles, heaps of jewels, and fire.
   • Timing of Dreams: The timing of a dream within the night influences its predictive power, with dreams in the early hours of the night manifesting sooner and those in the later hours taking longer. Dreams during daytime sleep are generally considered ineffective, though exceptions are noted.
   • Dream Interpretation Rules: It advises against going back to sleep after a pleasant dream and encourages reciting praises of Jinas. If a bad dream occurs, it's better to go back to sleep but never reveal it to anyone, as a subsequent dream can negate the effects of a previous one.
   • Dream Interpretation Practices: After experiencing a dream, it's recommended to visit a Jin temple or a Jain monk to narrate the dream. This should be done after offering fruits, sweets, or money. The advice received from the monk or deity should be followed.
   • Examples of Auspicious Dreams: Dreaming of riding an elephant into the sea signifies achieving kingdom. Dreaming of eating rice on an elephant by a river indicates gaining administrative power. Dreaming of crossing the ocean by oneself leads to becoming king. Dreaming of seeing deities, gurus, or holy places brings success. Dreaming of wearing flower garlands or receiving a shower of flowers brings wealth. Dreaming of water bodies like lakes, rivers, or oceans brings wealth, unless caused by pitta imbalance. Dreaming of flying is auspicious, unless caused by vata imbalance. Dreaming of sunrise, pure fire, celestial bodies, or reaching the pinnacle of temples or palaces signifies success in aspirations. Adorning oneself or others with sandalwood paste or jewels is beneficial. Dreams involving decorated animals or objects are auspicious. Dreaming of a white bull brings fame.
   • Examples of Inauspicious Dreams: Loss of horses, chariots, clothes, or seats to thieves signifies disrespect. Dreams related to fear of ghosts, spirits, or demons are problematic. Seeing oneself in mud up to the neck indicates impending death. Dreams of one's hands or feet growing longer signify increased reputation. Dreams of gold, silver, weapons, or jewels being stolen by thieves lead to loss of respect. Dreaming of receiving ornaments or clothes as gifts is auspicious. Dreams of dark-skinned women pulling towards the south are ominous. Dreaming of a date palm growing on one's head signifies imminent death. Dreaming of riding a black horse towards the south signifies difficult times. Dreaming of drinking hot water leads to illness. Dreaming of fighting with animals or being threatened by them brings trouble. Dreaming of seeing rats, cats, or mongooses is inauspicious. Dreaming of blood flowing from one's head signifies immediate acquisition of power. Dreams of fire or seeing oneself burning can be auspicious for wealth. Dreaming of seeing a dancing peacock brings royal favor and land. Dreaming of a black-skinned woman in black clothes dragging towards the south signifies impending death.
   • Specific Ominous Signs: Dreams of seeing a wolf, fox, or dog on one's bed indicate illness. Dreams of demons, ghosts, or spirits on one's bed or body signify impending death. Dreaming of drinking poison indicates a long life. Dreaming of singing or dancing oneself is not auspicious, but singing in a temple is. Seeing black objects is generally bad, but seeing black animals or deities is auspicious. White objects are good, but cotton and salt are not.

3. Swar Vigyan Nimitta (Science of Sound/Voice): This section deals with understanding the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness of sounds and voices.

   • Seven Musical Notes (Swaras): The text identifies seven primary musical notes: Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni. It states that the natural voices of humans, animals, and birds fall into these seven categories.
   • Animal and Bird Sounds: It links specific animals and birds to these notes: Peacock's natural sound is in Sadaj, rooster in Rishabh, goat in Madhyam, cuckoo in Pancham, crane in Dhaivat, and elephant in Nishad.
   • Significance of Human Voice:
     • Sadaj (Sa): A voice in this note brings wealth, enjoyment, and comfort. It also signifies prosperity, good fortune with cattle, supportive family and friends, and a beloved wife.
     • Rishabh (Ri): A voice in this note brings administrative power, wealth, fine clothes, perfumes, obedience from wife, and luxurious beds.
     • Gandhar (Ga): A voice in this note indicates skill in music, poetry, knowledge of scriptures, and the ability to teach religion.
     • Madhyam (Ma): A voice in this note signifies generosity, cheerfulness, enjoyment of comforts, courage, and the ability to inspire courage in others.
     • Pancham (Pa): A voice in this note brings the status of a king, bravery, fearlessness, leadership in armies, and acquisition of land.
     • Dhaivat (Dha): A voice in this note suggests a deceitful nature, persistence in one's ways, skill in wrestling, and indulgence in intoxication, with a dislike for religious talks.
     • Nishad (Ni): A voice in this note indicates cruelty, constant conflict, enjoyment of violence, subservience, and suffering.
   • Meaning of Sounds: The text reiterates that the auspiciousness of sounds is related to the purity of the listener's heart and faith in Dharma.
   • Musical Scales and Ragas: It mentions the seven notes, three grams, twenty-one murchanas, and forty-nine tans forming a musical system. It also briefly discusses the significance of music and the ancient power of certain ragas like Bhairav, Malkaush, Deepak, Hindol, Malhar, and Shri, which were believed to have supernatural effects. It laments the decline of such powerful singers and the divine potency of these ragas in the present era. It also lists various other ragas and their auspiciousness when sung in devotion.

4. Bhukamp Nimitta (Earthquake Omens): This section discusses the significance of earthquakes.

   • Cause: Earthquakes are attributed to the actions of subterranean deities or disturbances in subterranean saline substances.
   • Impact: Earthquakes are considered a sign of weakening collective karma. They cause widespread destruction, the collapse of structures, and displacement of natural features.
   • Interpretations: Specific sounds or tremors during an earthquake are linked to crises for rulers, generals, and the population, as well as an increase in diseases.

5. Vyanjan Nimitta (Marks on the Body): This section explains the significance of moles (tal), warts (masa), and reddish marks (lahasan) on the body.

   • General Principle: The auspiciousness of these marks depends on their clarity, shape, and location. Well-formed and clear marks are auspicious, while deformed or fragmented ones are not.
   • Distinction: Moles are described as flat and dark, warts as raised small lumps, and lahasan as reddish marks.
   • Specific Locations: The text provides detailed interpretations for moles on various parts of the head, face, neck, chest, arms, and legs, linking them to wealth, fame, travel, status, and relationships.
   • Gender Differences: For men, moles on the right side are generally more auspicious than on the left. For women, the opposite is true, with moles on the left side being more beneficial. However, even on the less auspicious side, some benefit is expected.
   • Purity of Heart: The auspiciousness of these marks is further amplified by the purity of one's heart and faith in Dharma.

6. Hastarekha Nimitta (Palmistry): This is a detailed section on interpreting lines and marks on the palm.

   • Key Marks: It identifies 55 main palmistry signs and describes their meanings.
   • Examples of Auspicious Marks: Marks resembling an elephant, fish, palanquin, horse, lion, flower garland, trident, celestial vehicle, sun, ankusha (goad), peacock, yoni, kalasha (pot), sword, ship, Goddess Lakshmi, swastika, kamandalu (water pot), throne, step-well, chariot, kalpavriksha (wish-fulfilling tree), mountain, umbrella, bow, plough, mace, lake, flag, lotus, moon, châmara (fly whisk), tortoise, torana (arch), chakra (discus), mirror, vajra (thunderbolt), altar, conch shell, hexagon, nandavarta, triangle, crown, shrivatsa, and various lines are described as bringing prosperity, fame, power, good fortune, or spiritual attainment.
   • Line Interpretations: Specific lines like the line of fame (yash rekha), line of disposition (vibhava rekha), and line of life (aayushya rekha) are discussed in detail, relating their length, clarity, and connections to wealth, longevity, family relations, and destiny.
   • Women's Palmistry: It also offers interpretations for women's palms, emphasizing the auspiciousness of left-hand marks.
   • Body Features: The section also includes interpretations of other physical features like bone structure, skin texture, eye color, gait, and voice, linking them to happiness, wealth, and character.

7. Utpat Nimitta (Unusual Occurrences): This section deals with the interpretation of uncommon and unnatural events as omens.

   • Nature of Utpats: These are described as events that defy normal expectations and occur when collective karma weakens.
   • Examples of Ominous Utpats: Lightning striking temple spires or city gates, rivers changing course, idols smiling or crying, painted figures on walls shedding tears, owls hooting at midnight, kings' banners breaking, sparks emanating from royal treasuries or armories without fire, trees bleeding or weeping milk, royal umbrellas catching fire, and rain of blood or flesh are considered severe bad omens.
   • Timelines: The effects of these omens are said to manifest within a year.
   • Specific Interpretations: The text provides interpretations for events like fires without apparent cause, dust storms, unusual daylight darkness, trees making crying or speaking sounds, and falls of coal or flesh from the sky, linking them to disease, war, and disaster.
   • Wells and Rivers: Changes in well water from sweet to sour or bitter indicate disease. Rivers flowing with oil, blood, or flesh signify increased enemy influence. Wells emitting fire or smoke indicate illness in nearby houses.
   • Other Signs: The sounds of dogs crying, owls on temple tops, serpents moving with tails raised, flags falling on the day of their erection, and breaking of idol heads are all considered inauspicious.

8. Antariksha Nimitta (Celestial Omens): This section covers celestial phenomena and their interpretations.

   • Phenomena Discussed: This includes meteor showers (ulkapath), atmospheric fire phenomena (digdah), celestial cities (gandharva nagar), rainbows, and the appearance of comets.
   • Meteor Showers (Ulka): The shape of meteors is significant. Those resembling ghosts, demons, camels, monkeys, or deer are considered inauspicious. Serpents, horses, and double-headed meteors are also bad omens. Meteors touching the sun or moon can indicate regime changes and drought. Meteors falling on temples or royal banners are bad for the rulers. Meteors moving backward or in curved paths are bad for merchants and royalty respectively. Those falling in specific directions have different impacts on Brahmins, warriors, and kings.
   • Atmospheric Fire (Digdah): Yellow digdah signifies political opposition. Red digdah indicates destruction. Bright, sun-like digdah provokes royal anger. Digdah in different directions affects farmers, traders, and Brahmins.
   • Celestial Cities (Gandharva Nagar): Black or dark-colored celestial cities are inauspicious. Red ones cause suffering to animals. Other colored ones are not beneficial in eastern, western, and southern directions. Brightly colored celestial cities with clear depictions of forts, trees, and animals in the north are auspicious.
   • Rainbows and Halos: Rainbows appearing during rain are generally auspicious. Halos around the moon or sun (parivesh) have various interpretations based on color, with some indicating good rain and others war or disease.

In essence, "Ashtang Nimitta ni Zalak" serves as a guide to understanding the subtle signs and portents that, according to Jain tradition, can provide insights into the future, emphasizing the interconnectedness of karma, celestial events, bodily signs, and natural phenomena.