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Role of Women in Jaina Religion
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being eligible for liberation, the women automatically became entitled to other rights.
A significant aspect of the role of women in Jaina religion is that since prehistoric times the Jaina Sramanas (ascetics) are outnumbered by Jaina Sadhvis. Similarly the number of women Śrāvikas, who first joined the fold is far greater than that of Srāvakas. The twenty-third and twenty-fourth Tirtharikaras--Pārsvanātha and Mahāvīrā unhesitatingly admitted Sadhvis along with the Sädhus and Srāvikas with the Srāvakas. Thus, the Jaina religion was committed to the equality of all in fact, it achieved equality between men and women. The ancient sculptures of Mathura contain the sculpture of Sadhví very similar to that of a Sādhu and another sculpture of a men and woman together offering prayer. This is an enough as an indication of how in ancient times men and women were treated as equals in the Jaina tradition. So also the ancient edicts of Mathura also contain female names along with those of males. Women participated equally with men in religious ceremonies, gave donations as per their desires and collaborated in the construction of temples. During the time of Bhagavāna Pārsvanātha, sixteen thousand Śrāvikas attained spiritual uplift through initiation or 'Dikśā'under the inspiring guidance of Sadhvi, Pusyacūlā. The followers of Bhagavāna Mahāvīra included only fourteen thousand Sādhus as against thirty six thousand Šādhvis; the Srävakas were one and a half lacs whereas the number of Śrávikas exceeded three lacs. These figures are indicative of the honour and respect women commanded in the Jaina religion, Mahāsati Candanbālā independently managed this sect of thirty six thousand Sadhvis.
Candanabālā is aremarkable personality in Jaina religion. Bhagavāna Mahāvīra accepted food from Candanabāla, a maid servant which may be conceived as the gesture of abolition of casteism. After her initiation she was nominated to the post of Pravartins and was given rights equal to those of the post of a senior Ācārya in a Sangha. Under the impact of religious discourses of Sadhvi Candanā many a king renounced the material world. Candană herself attained 'Siddhatva' in that birth itself through rigorous penance. The Sangha of Jaina Sadhvís contained women of all castes and communities. Candanbālā, Kali, Sukāli, Mahākāli, Krsnā and such other women belonged to the Ksatriyacommunity whereas Devānandā and other
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