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102 :: Aspects of Jaina Religion
womb of a Brahmana lady, Devānandā. The change of embryo is believed to have been effected by God Indra on the eighty-third day after conception. The Digambaras, however, dismiss the whole episode as unreliable and absurd.
(ii) Marriage of Mahāvīra
The Svetāmbaras believe that Mahāvīra married Princess Yasodā at a fairly young age and had a daughter from her by name Anojjā or Priyadarśanā and that Mahavira led a full-fledged householder's life till he was thirty, when he became an ascetic. But the Digambaras deny this assertion altogether.
(iii) Tirthankara Mallinātha
The Svetāmbaras consider Mallinātha, the 19th Tīrthankara as a female by name Malli but the Digambaras state that Mallinātha was a male.
(iv) Idols of Tirthankaras
The Svetāmbara tradition depicts the idols of Tirthankaras as wearing a loin-cloth, bedecked with jewels and with glass eyes inserted in the marble. But the Digambara tradition represents the idols of Tīrthankaras as nude, unadorned and with downcast eyes in the contemplative mood. (v) Canonical Literature
The Svetāmbaras believe in the validity and sacredness of canonical literature, that is, the twelve angas and sūtras, as they exist now, while the Digambaras hold that the original and genuine texts were lost long ago. The Digambaras also refuse to accept the achievements of the first council which met under the leadership of Achārya Sthūlabhadra and consequently the recasting of the angas.
(vi) Charitras and Purānas
The svetāmbaras use the term 'Charitra' and the Digambaras make use of the term 'Purana' for the biographies of great teachers.
