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[Eighth Chapter]
[145
Rough, without flesh] and filled with veins. Just as a cart filled with coals, a cart filled with dry wood, a cart filled with leaves, dried in the sun, that is, coal, wood, leaves, etc. are thoroughly dried and then loaded into the cart, then that cart moves with a rattling sound and stops, in the same way the black Arya walked with the rattling of bones and stood with the rattling. She had attained the increase of merit through austerity, but she had attained the decrease of merit due to flesh and blood.] Like fire covered with a group of ashes, she was shining brightly with the intensity of austerity, and she was extremely radiant with the wealth of austerity.
One day, in the last watch of the night, a thought arose in the heart of the black Arya, like Skanda Muni - "Due to this rigorous austerity, my body has become extremely emaciated. However, as long as there is upliftment, karma, strength, vigor, and courage in this body of mine, and faith, patience, and detachment in my mind, it is appropriate for me to eat the Sanlekhanā Jhūshanā after sunrise tomorrow, after asking Arya Chandanā and obtaining her permission, and to renounce food and drink, becoming indifferent to death." Thinking this, she went to where Arya Chandanā was as soon as the sun rose the next day, and after bowing and greeting Arya Chandanā, she spoke as follows - "O Arya! If you permit, I wish to wander while wearing the Sanlekhanā Jhūshanā." Arya Chandanā said - "O Devānupriyā! Do as you please. Do not delay in doing good deeds." Then, having received the permission of Arya Chandanā, the black Arya took the Sanlekhanā Jhūshanā and began to wander. The black Arya studied the eleven Angas from Samayika to Arya Chandanā Arya, and for eight years she followed the Dharma of conduct, and after purifying her soul with a month-long Sanlekhanā, she completed the fast of sixty meals, and fulfilled the purpose for which she had taken the vow, until her last breath, and became a Siddha, a Buddha, and a liberated soul.
Discussion - The black Arya studied the eleven Anga scriptures from her teacher, this statement clearly proves that just as a Sadhu has the right to study the Anga scriptures, so does a Sadhvi. In addition, the biography of the black goddess also proves that both Sadhus and Sadhvis have an equal right to attain the state of Nirvana, which is the ultimate bliss.
The tenth Uddesaka of the Vyavahāra Sutra describes the curriculum of Sadhus and Sadhvis. It is written there that a Sadhu who has been initiated at the age of ten can read the Vyākhyāprajñapti - (Bhagawti) Sutra, but not before. But the black goddess was initiated at the age of eight, and she read the eleven Angas. In such a situation, it is natural to ask why the black goddess studied the Anga scriptures even though she was not entitled to do so according to the Vyavahāra Sutra?
In response, it is submitted that five types of Vyavahāra are mentioned in the Sthānānga Bhagawti and other Sutras. Vyavahāra refers to the specific knowledge that is the cause of the inclination and disinclination of souls seeking liberation. The five Vyavahāras are as follows:
1. Āgama Vyavahāra - The study of Kevalajñāna, Manahparyavajñāna, Avadhijñāna, fourteen Pūrvas, ten Pūrvas, and nine Pūrvas is called Āgama. The Vyavahāra that is the inclination and disinclination arising from Āgama is called Āgama Vyavahāra.