Samavsaran and 34 Atishays of Tirthankar

Description of a Samavasarana - Samosaran ki Rachna
समवसरण का वर्णन
Description of 34 Atishays of Tirthankar Bhagwan
What is a Samavasaran? How is it created? Who creates it? When and for how long the Tirthankar gives his discourse in the Samavasaran? All these questions have been dealt in various canons (Agams), and their different commentaries (Niryukti, Vritti and Bhashya) in eloquent style.
The Samavasaran is the religious assembly of Tirthankars. The literal meaning of the term is proper congregation at a specific place or a place where beings with different attitudes assemble in an orderly manner. As such, the assembling of a variety of worthy beings-specially humans, animals and gods-for the purpose of beholding the Tirthankar and listening to his preachings is called Samavasaran.
Samavasarana is an assembly hall for imparting of wisdom gained after kevalajnana by the Jina or tirthankara. This is built by heavenly beings. The word literally means equal opportunity to all to gain wisdom The tirthankara addresses all creatures . He sits on a throne but two inches above it. Though he sits facing east it seems that he looks in all directions. He teaches Jaina philosophy is a simple and clear way, after listening to which beings become less violent and greedy.
The ganadharas or chief disciples sit around the tirthankara. In the later halls, the ascetics,aryikas or Jaina nuns, heavenly beings and lay women are present. In the eleventh hall men and lastly animals. Animals also can understand the discourse, so it is believed.
The Thirty Four Unique Attributes of a Tirthankar
The Tirthankars are worshipped as the loftiest beings in this world because they acquire infinite knowledge, perception, purity of conduct , and power by destroying the four vitiating Karmas at spiritual level. This gives rise to unique attributes in them, both at spiritual and physical levels. In canonical terms those are known as Atishaya or out of ordinary. These are-
1. There is no growth of hair on the body.
2. The body remains free of any ailment.
3. The blood and flesh are milky white.
4. The breath is fragrant like lotus.
5. Food intake and excretion are invisible.
6. Above the head there are three canopies (umbrellas) in the sky.
7. A wheel, symbolic of religion, moves ahead and behind him in the sky.
8. At both flanks there are white whisks in the sky.
9. The throne is made of crystal quartz.
10. The flag of Indra moves ahead of him.
11. wherever he stays there is an Ashok tree.
12. There is a divine aura around him.
13. The land around him is pleasant.
14. Thorns get reversed.
15. The seasons are pleasant and favorable.
16. Pleasant wind blows.
17. Dust is settled due to moisture.
18. There are heaps of five types of lifeless flowers around him.
19. There is absence of unpleasant sound, form, smell, color and touch around him and pleasant things appear.
20-21. His voice is heard with same volume and clarity up to a distance of one Yojan.
22. His discourse is in Ardha-Magadhi language.
23. All present in the audience understand his discourse in their respective languages.
24. In his proximity the natural enemies forget their animosity.
25. His opponents become amiable.
26. His dissenters become speechless.
27-28. Twenty five Yojans around him there is no epidemic or death.
29-33. Wherever he goes there are no afflictions self-inflicted or inflicted by others
including flood, drought, diseases, etc.
34. The touch of his feet pacifies all the earlier disturbances of the area.