Jain Journal 2008 04 No 04

SR No.: 520270
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Satyaranjan Banerjee
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication
Publication Year: 2008
Total Pages: 46
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, India_Jain Journal, & India
File Size: 3 MB

Page 34

206
JAIN JOURNAL : VOL-XLII, NO.4 APRIL. 2008
“Long-nailed, naked mendicant in shabby look picks up hair from his head. The Digambara saints in an awakard way used to walk for salvation (mokşa)".
They were often ridiculed for their religion saying that the nakedness of a saint will not lead him to salvation (mokşa). Saraha further says.
jai naggā kia hoi mutti
tā śunaha siyalaha // "It nakedness frees a man (from bondage), then jackles and dogs will get salvation."
Saraha has further said that if picking of hair leads to mokṣa , then the buttok of a young lady will lead to :
lomoppāțtane accha siddhi a
tā juvai nitambaha // “If picking hair leads to siddhi, then the buttok of a young lady
too."
Saraha describes the different aspects of the Digambara sādhus and says that if taking the peacock feathers one gets mokșa, then elephants and horses would also get.
picchi gahane dittha mokkha
tā kariha turangaha // "If peacock feathers lead to mokşa, then elephants and horses will also get.”
ubbhe bhoane hoi jāna
tā kariha turangaha // "If taking used meal leads a man to knowledge, then the horses would also get it.”
Finally, Saraha says that a Jain mendicant does not know what mokṣa is :
khavaņāna mokkha kim pi abhāvai “Jain mendicent does not know what mokṣa is.”
The above mentioned passages are not intended to describe - still less to disparage - the position of the Jain sādhus in a society, but only to suggest that despite these references to the low estimate, the positions of the Jain monks were, however, very good. Their activities were highly adorned, their knowledge of the subject was greatly respected, and wherever they used to roam people thronged together round