Jainism The Cosmic Vision

SR No.: 006587
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Kumarpal Desai
Publisher: UK Mahavir Foundation London
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 276
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 204

Role of Women in Jain Religion matters. On the other hand women like the wife of Shravak Anand very willingly and joyously follow the faith of their husbands and perform the upasak vows of Bhagwan Mahavira. Thus, since the times of Agama era, women are allowed total freedom as regards religious faith and life-style. Sadhvis used to live and move independently from the company of the Sadhus, and arranged for their own security by appointing a Sadhvi as a Pratihari-guard.
Bhagwan Mahavira has glorified the vow of celibacy and women were also allowed to refuse to be married and to adopt the celibate way of living. Women like Brahmi, Sundari, Malli, Chandanbala, Jayanti and others accepted the life long vow of celibacy by rejecting the married life. In view of the prevailing traditions and circumstances, it was considered inevitable in those times for women to live a married life. But Jain religion has left such a personal issue of marriage to the discretion of women; a woman may herself decide whether to marry or not. If she felt that the unmarried way of life was better for her effective religious pursuits, she was entitled for diskha without getting married.
At the samavasaran (gathering for preaching) of Bhagwan Mahavir, women enjoyed as much freedom as did men. They attended such gatherings without any restraint or restriction, listened to the preachings and satisfied their curiosity by publicly asking questions as in the case of Jayanti who settled her doubts by raising questions.
Thus, the role of women in Jain religion has been very progressive and ennobling on the whole. As mothers they have given birth to Tirthankaras, as wives they have provided
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