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welcome. All the seekers got liberated turough spiritual practices. About alms seeking it is clearly evident that the ascetics did not approach people of high status or caste only. In fact they sought alms from low. medium and high classes of people alike. It informs that the equanimous ascetics did not show any discrimination on the basis of status or caste.
Some important facts about Ascetics
In Antakrit-dasha Sutra 90 Antakrit Kevalis have been described. Some interesting statistics about them from various angles is given here under:
Of the 90, 75 were youths, 1 child and 14 elderly. Of the 90, 57 were male and 33 female. Of the 57 males, 55 were married and 2 were initiated as bachelors.
Of the 33 females, 21 became ascetics after getting permission from their husbands, the husbands of 2 were initiated before them and 10 were widows.
Of the 90. 35 male and 11 female ascetics belonged to Dvarka; 6 Shramans fro Bhaddi!pur; 6 male and 22 female ascetics from Rajgruha, 2 Shramans from Kakandi, 2 Shramans from Vanijyagram, 2 Shramans from Shravasti; 1 Shraman from Polaspur, I Shramans from Varanasi; and 1 Shraman and I Sramani from Saket.
Of the 90, 35 male and 10 female ascetics were from the Yadav clan; 6 male ascetic including Nag Gathapati (Sulasaputra) were from Merchant community; 23 female ascetics were from the Kshatriya caste (wives of king Shrenik); 1 male ascetic was from Rajkul; 1 was a prince; 13 male ascetics were from Grihapati clan; and I was from Mali clan (Arjun Malakar).
Of the 90, 41 Shramans were disciples of Bhagavan Arishtanemi, 10 Shramanis of Arya Yakshini, 16 Shramans of Bhagavan Mahavir and 23 Shramanis of Arya Chandanbala.
Of the 90, 33 Shramans and 33 Shramanis studied eleven Angas: 12 Shramans studied fourteen Purvas; 10 Shramans studied twelve Angas and 2 Shramans were only the observers of the codes of Samiti and Gupti.
Of the 90, 55 Shramans got liberated after an ultimate vow of one month, Arjun Malakar and 33 Shramanis after an ultimate vow of thirty days and ascetic Gajasukumal without an ultimate vow.
The period for which these 90 remained in ascetic life before getting liberated was as under
Gajasukumal—one day and night; Arjun Malakar-six months: 2 Shramans-five years; 13 Shramanis—twelve years; 16 Shramans---twenty five years; 1 Shraman--twenty seven years; 10 Shramanis--eight to seventeen years; and 4 Shramans—many years.
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Antakriddasha Mahima
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