Jain Journal 1982 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 32

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of the Svetambaras, this Brahmin lady Devananda is reported to have once visited one of Mahavira's congregations after the latter's attainment of kevala-jñāna (omniscience), when milk began to ooze out of her breasts at the sight of the Jina. Being questioned by his disciple, Mahavira explained that the lady was his mother. Devananda expressed her desire to renounce the world and, with the consent of the Jina, entered into the order of Jaina nuns.
The Jainas at Mathura seem to have accorded special reverence and worship to the mother of Mahavira, and the figure of Aryavati (Pkt. Ayavati), on a Tablet of Homage (āyāgapața), assignable to the first century B.C., seems to represent the great lady who gave birth to such an eminent philosopher and monk Mahavira.5
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Of the earlier mothers, Marudevi, the mother of the first Tirthankara Rsabhanatha, is especially known amongst the Jainas. When the news came to Marudevi and Bharata (the son of Rsabha, ruling at Vinita) that Rsabha had obtained kevala-jñāna in the city of Purimatala, Marudevi, mounted on an elephant and followed by King Bharata with his royal retinue, went out to meet and worship the Lord sitting in a samavasaraṇa, a divine assembly hall constructed by the gods. Seeing the spiritual lustre and splendour of the Tirthankara, Marudevi was absorbed in meditation and immediately obtained herself the kevalajñāna and died. She was the first person to obtain mokṣa (liberation) in this decadent age on earth."
Brahmi and Sundari were the two daughters of Rsabhanatha. Rsabhanatha taught the knowledge of eighteen alphabets to Brahmi and arithmetic to Sundari. The ancient script of India, the Brahmi-lipi is said to have derived its name from this daughter of Rsabha, who first received the knowledge of scripts. Now Bahubali, a valiant son of Rsabha, ruling at Podanapura or Taxila, did not acknowledge the
4 It is the Svetambaras who narrate the transfer legend. The Digambaras merely refer to her as Priyakarini. The evidence of the Bhagavati-sutra, 9. 6, cited above, is, however, noteworthy.
For a representation of the Aryavati Tablet, see Vincent Smith, Jaina Stupa and Other Antiquities at Mathura. For patas of the Jaina mothers, see U. P. Shah, loc. cit., p. 48 f. and plates. One of the tapas or penances prescribed for the Jainas was in honour of holy mothers and was known as Matr-tapa. See Vidhiprapa, p. 27.
6 Sculptures of Marudevi on an elephant, going to meet the Lord, are sometimes found in the front halls of shrines of Rsabhadeva, e.g., at Satrunjaya. For an account of Marudevi, see Trisastisalaka-purusa-caritra, I, G. O. Series, Vol. 51, pp. 194 ff.
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