ISJS Transactions 2018 07 To 09 Vol 02 No 03

Author(s): International School for Jain Studies
Publisher: International School for Jain Studies

Page 18

At the dead of night, the aspirant resolved "I must leave my home and seek my God. Who has beguiled me and kept me here?" God whispered, "I." But the would be ascetic heard it not. Seeing his wife fast asleep, her babe clasped to her breast, he muttered, "What are you if not a snare?" God whispered, "Naught else but I," but none was there to heed. Leaving his bed, he cried, "Where art thou, O Lord?" "Here," came the reply. He heeded not. The child wailed in [her] dreams pulling at [her] mother. God commanded, "Turn back". The ascetic ignored the behest. God sighed and said, "Alas where is my devotee straying, deserting me."
For a moment, can imagine of the wife of Siddhārtha Gautama as representative of all Indian female householders, and her child as India's infant daughters, and, we can also imagine the Buddha as the rest of society, undervaluing the role of India's females. With this understanding, Tagore's imagined voice of God makes utter sense; God is present in the form of the female householder and her daughter. Those who understand, elevate, and appreciate, this kind of householder "holiness" achieve a kind of "feminist" realization that ensures the future of their families and their faiths.
References
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Sonraya, Pt. Vimal K Jain, Ed. Ratnakaranda Srāvakācāra with Sanskrit commentary and Hindi translation by Acārya Prabhachandra. Sailsagar, Tikamgarh: Vītarāga Vāni Trust, 2006: 250-51. Print. Johnson, Helen M. Trans. Trişastišalākāpuruşacaritra or The lives of sixty-three illustrious person, Vol. VI, (Book X-Mahāvīracaritra). Baroda: Oriental Institute, 1962: 193-197. Print. Jain. Shugan C. Gandhi and Jainism, New Delhi: International School for Jain Studies, 2017: XI. Print. Sunita, Personal Interview in Jaipur. 4 July 2018. Amisha. Personal Interview in Alipur, Delhi, 11 July 2018. Amrita. Personal Interview in Alipur, Delhi. 13 July 2018. Arati and Rahul. Personal Interview in Alipur, Delhi. 11 July 2018. Ibid. Amrita. op.cit. 11 July 2018. Prity. Personal Interview in Jaipur. 3 July 2018. Ibid. Amisha. op.cit. 11 July 2018. Shivangi. Personal Interview in Jaipur. 5 July 2018. Amrita. op.cit. 11 July 2018. Prity. op.cit. 3 July 2018, Sunita. op.cit. 4 July 2018. Ibid. Shivangi. op.cit. 5 July 2018. Amrita. op.cit. 11 July 2018. Mira. Personal Interview in Alipur, Delhi, 6 July 2018. Aryika. Personal Interview in Jaipur. 3 July 2018. Shivangi. op.cit. 5 July 2018. Arati and Rahul. op.cit. 11 July 2018, Pai, A. "Mahavira: Warrior of Virtue" in Jain Stories (5 in 1 series). Mumbai: Amar Chitra Katha Pvt. Ltd, 2014. Print. Sneha. Personal Interview in Jaipur. 1 July 2018; Jain, Aanchal. op.cit. 11 July 2018. Shivangi. op.cit. 5 July 2018. "Children Activities" Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur. Web. 20 July 2018. <http://www.shrimadrajchandramission.org/sr-divinetouch. Patel, Neha. Personal Interview in Alipur, Delhi. 19 July 2010. Amisha. op.cit. 11 July 2018. Mira, op.cit. 6 July 2018. Vijeta. Personal Interview in Jaipur. 30 June 2018. Amrita, op.cit. 11 July 2018.
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