Unknown Pilgrims

SR No.: 007014
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: N Shanta
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications Delhi
Publication Year: 1997
Total Pages: 820
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 119

Prelude
99
obscuring karmas. She attained perfect knowledge and, abandoning the body, reached Liberation.17
Brāhmi and Sundari, the first princesses, became also the first äryikās. Brāhmi's mother was Queen Sumāngalā and she had a twin brother named Bharata; Sundari's mother was Queen Sunandā and she had a twin brother named Bahubali.18 Their father, King Rşabha, taught various kinds of writing to Brāhmi and mathematics to Sundari. 19 Later, when Rşabha, now an ascetic, was preaching the way leading to Liberation, Brāhmi requested that she might receive diksā; Adinātha replied that she must obtain permission from her brother Bharata, who, seeing the determination of his twin-sister, gave his consent. Her sister Sundari also felt drawn to the ascetic life, but Bharata refused her permission to receive dikşå.20
Then Sundari, while still residing in the palace, proceeded none the less to live in a state of renunciation, submitting her body to harsh penances. Later on, Bharata, now convinced of his sister's sincerity, permitted her to go and rejoin Brāhmi.21 In his turn Bāhubali, after waging war against Bharata, renounced all. Retiring to the jungle, naked and in silence, standing and exposed to all the winds of heaven, stationary in the posture of kāyotsarga, abandonment of the body,
17 Cf. TrisalPC I, 3, 488-534. This extraordinary event proves that it is not absolutely necessary to embrace the ascetic state to reach Liberation. This narrative belongs to the Svetāmbara tradition and is not accepted by the Digambaras.
18 Cf. TrisalPC 1, 2, 882.
19Cf. TrisalPC 1, 2,963. As Brähmi was the first to learn the art of writing, it is said that the first written characters bear her name. On the subject of the as yet unclear origin of brāhmi, cf. Filliozat, 1953, pp. 667-668; Pandey, 1957, pp. 35-49.
20 Cf. TrisalPC I, 3, 644-692.
21 Cf. TrisalPC I, 4,728-797.