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Essence of Jainism:
resort to celibacy in the bright half and the dark half of the month individually before marriage. After marriage, even though they shared the same bed, they remained firm in their resolve and remained celibate all life with joy. Their example is memorable. The firmness of this couple reminds us of their unworldly firmness first as a couple and later in the life of Bhiksus, as Bhiksu Mabākaśyapa and Bhikṣuņi Bhadrākapilāni.1 So many such events are noted in the Jain Ākhyānas. In these. there are more examples of men being steadied by women, while the examples of women: being steadied by men are rare.
(3) History of Independence
There are several descriptions of four and five Mahāvratas in the Jain tradition. From the descriptions in the sūtras: we grasp. that four Mabāvratas were propagated in the tradition of Bhagavān Pārsvanátha, while Śri Mahāvira added one vrata to it and preached the dharma of five great vows. In the Ācārāngasūtra, even three Yāmas or vows are listed.8 Their definitions show that perbaps this tradition was also approved by Jainism. All this means that. there were days in which three great vows prevajled in Jainism. They were, giving up of (i) violence, (ii) Falsehood and (iii) Parigraha. Abandonment of theft was later added to this and the number came to four. Later Mahavira added abandonnent of passionate conduct, i.e., observance of celibacy and the number came to five. In this manner, independent preaching of celibacy is. noted right from the days of Mahavira. Even in the days of three or four Yāmas, actually five were being observed. The far-sighted and simple munis of those days, desiring liberation took theft and Kāmācāra to be Parigraha and very naturally they discarded it. Till the time of the tradition of Parsvanātha, the abandonment of Kāmācāra was included in the rejection of Parigraha, and so, no separate mention was probably found necessary. But, of the non-mention of the abandonment of Kämācāra brought about 1. Vide 'Bauddha Sanghano Parichay', pp. 190 and 274. 2. Sthānāngasūtra, p. 201, 3. Acārānga Su, I, Adhy. 8, U. 1.
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