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The Value of Celibacy
107
person who wants to marry me?
Rath--What in the world does marriage has to do with vomiting?
Raji--In the same way as this drink was vomited by me, I was abandoned as if vomited by your elder brother. Rathnemi! When you thought of marrying me, you should have considered that you were really wishing to marry your elder brother's wife. You weren't thinking about anything but beauty. It would've been better for you to renounce worldly pleasures and enjoy inner peace.
Rajimati's words awakened his conscience. He was ashamed. He replied with sorrow: “ I apologize for my mistake and will not repeat it in future. I hereby renounce worldly affairs like my brother. Now I shall go.”
Soon after, Aristnemi was formally initiated as a monk. Under severe penance Aristnemi attained kevalgyana and established a new tirth. Rajimati, who had, though not without initial opposition from her parents, remained single, was then initiated into the Order of a nun with her many companions.
After initiation Rajimati wanted to hear a sermon Aristnemi was giving on a mountain named Girnaar. Rajimati in a group of nuns began to ascend the mountain. Suddenly, the sky was overcast with clouds and a severe storm arose. Rajimati became separated from the group and was left wet and shivering.
As the storm calmed and the sky cleared a bit, Rajimati could see a cave ahead. She entered it and attempted to dry her clothes. In the same cave Rathnemi was serving penance. Because of the darkness inside the