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Celibacy according to Jainism
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"years. A muni Aşadhabhūti by name, did the same. Prince Ardrakumāra became loose in his life of celibacy and leaned towards the life of the householder for twentyfour years. Ultimately all the three munis steadied themselves in celibacy with double vigour. Opposite examples are also many. Śri Jambūkumāra was renowned for grasping the Jain Āgamas from Sri Sudharmā guru, the principal disciple of Mahāvīra. In spite of all attraction, he discarded bis eight women on the very day of his marriage and accepted and adopted complete celibacy in the prime of his youth. He even inspired the eight newly married women to follow his path. Sthūlabhadra, the son of Sakadala, a minister of Nanda, lived in the of the prostitute Kośā, tasted fine food and saw her voluptuous attractions and still bis celibacy was not disturbed in the slightest degree. Kośā under his influence became a firm celibate.
Malli, who finds place amongst the most venerated Jain Tirtharkaras, was a woman. In her days of virginity, she gave genuine preaching to six princes who came to marry her through attraction, made them detached and made them resort to celibacy. She made them her followers and proved her status as a preceptor, though a woman.
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Neminātha, the twenty-second Tirthankara discarded prineess Rajimati just before the marriage eeremony was over. She became
adhvi. While she was in meditation, Rathanemi, the brother of Neminātha was enamoured of her charms and he fell down from his celibacy, She gave genuine preaching to him and reinstated him in his vow of celibacy. She thus threw away the charge of unsteadiness thrust on women, found a unique position in steady Sadhakas and gave new confidence to prospective celibates.
It is also noted about Kośā, the prostitute, that after she became a celibate Srāvikā she gave preaching and sermons to one elder brother of Sthūlabhadra, who had come with an unsteady mind to her. She raises womanhood to glory.
But, in this matter of celibacy, the example of Vijaya Sheth and Vijayā Shetbani reigns supreme. They had firmly resolved to
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