In short
The fourteen dreams, or Chaudah Swapna, are the auspicious visions Shwetambar tradition records that Mata Trishala saw before the birth of Bhagwan Mahavira. Each announced that her child would be a Tirthankara. They are read aloud during the Janma Vachan of Paryushan.
Shwetambar tradition records that before the birth of a Tirthankara, his mother sees fourteen great dreams in the last part of the night. On the fourth day of Paryushan they are read aloud, and in many sanghs enacted.
The fourteen dreams
DREAM 1
Elephant
गज
A four-tusked white elephant — strength joined to gentleness, and the greatness of the child to come.
DREAM 2
Bull
वृषभ
The bull — steadiness, patient labour, and the capacity to carry the burden of teaching.
DREAM 3
Lion
सिंह
The lion — fearlessness, and the courage required to conquer the passions rather than other beings.
DREAM 4
Goddess Lakshmi
लक्ष्मी
Lakshmi seated on a lotus, being bathed by elephants — abundance and auspiciousness surrounding the birth.
DREAM 5
Garland of Flowers
पुष्पमाला
A descending garland — the fragrance of virtue, and honour offered by all beings.
DREAM 6
Full Moon
चन्द्र
The full moon — coolness and calm, and teaching that soothes rather than scorches.
DREAM 7
Sun
सूर्य
The rising sun — the light of omniscience dispelling the darkness of ignorance.
DREAM 8
Flag
ध्वज
A great banner — the standard of dharma raised, and victory over the passions.
DREAM 9
Kalash
कलश
A golden vessel filled to the brim — completeness, and a life that lacks nothing.
DREAM 10
Lotus Lake
पद्म सरोवर
A lake of blooming lotuses — purity that grows untouched by the water around it.
DREAM 11
Milky Ocean
क्षीर समुद्र
The ocean of milk — depth beyond measure, and knowledge without limit.
DREAM 12
Celestial Plane
देव विमान
A heavenly vehicle — the soul's descent from the celestial realm to be born.
DREAM 13
Heap of Gems
रत्न राशि
A mound of jewels — the treasury of virtues the child will possess.
DREAM 14
Smokeless Fire
निर्धूम अग्नि
Fire burning without smoke — austerity that consumes karma while leaving no residue of pride.
Why the dreams are read
The dreams are not read as prediction. They are read as recognition — the tradition's way of saying that the arrival of such a soul is announced by everything auspicious at once. For children in the sangh, this is often the first part of the scripture they can follow, and many devotees can still recite the fourteen decades later.