Answer

People bid for the 19 dreams on this day as an act of devotion, celebration, and punya-bhāv connected with the sacred dreams seen by a Tirthankar’s mother before the birth of a Tirthankar.

In many Jain communities, especially during Paryushan / Mahavir Janma Vanchan, devotees bid for the privilege of carrying, displaying, or honoring these dreams because they are considered highly auspicious.

Explanation

In Jain tradition, before the birth of a Tirthankar, the mother sees auspicious dreams. These dreams indicate the arrival of an extraordinary soul who will become a Tirthankar and show the path of liberation.

Different Jain traditions describe the dreams differently:

• Shwetambar tradition commonly observes 14 dreams.
• Digambar tradition commonly describes 16 dreams.
• Some local temple traditions include additional symbolic items and may refer to 19 dreams in the celebration.

The bidding is not meant as ordinary buying or selling. It is a devotional offering. Devotees participate because:

• They feel blessed to honor symbols connected with a Tirthankar’s birth.
• They express joy and reverence during the Janma Kalyanak celebration.
• The donated amount supports the temple, sangh, religious events, and charitable activities.
• It creates a feeling of participation in the sacred occasion.

Spiritual Understanding

The deeper meaning is not the amount of money given, but the bhāv behind it.

In Jain Dharma, true religious merit comes from:

• faith,
• humility,
• devotion,
• non-attachment,
• and reverence for the Tirthankar.

So bidding should be done with a pure heart, not ego, competition, or pride.

Takeaway

People bid for the 19 dreams to joyfully honor the auspicious dreams connected with a Tirthankar’s birth and to offer devotion to the sangh. The real value is not the bid amount, but the purity of one’s devotion.