Jain Journal 2001 10

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

Page 32

JAIN JOURNAL: Vol-XXXVI, No. 2 October, 2001
custom, Jain monks too live at certain specific places during the four rainy months to avoid walking outside and so hurting crawling creatures which multiply and abound then. They seek permission from their guru to retire to some secluded place for this period to practise various types of austerities. One among Sthulabhadra and his brother disciples asked permission to remain in kāyot-sarga-dhyāna (meditation with perfect control of detachment from the body) near the den of a lion; another to live near the hole of a snake; and another to dwell on the central beam of a well! Sthulabhadra, however, made a very peculiar request: He begged permission to pass the four monsoon months in the pleasure-chamber (citra-sala) of the courtesan Kosha, where he had lived a different life for twelve years! All were granted permission.
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Kosha, who was downcast ever since Sthulabhadra had left, was delighted to see him back. At first she thought that he had returned, not being able to bear the rigours of monastic life. The sage, however, made his intentions plain: he was going to stick to his vows. Still hopeful, Kosha tried to win him with arguments in favour of a life of enjoyment, and tried all means she knew to tempt him, but failed. She accepted defeat in face of his absolute self-control, serene inner poise born of deep meditation on the Self, and renunciation. Being defeated, she then converted and became a lay Jain devotee. The conversation between Kosha and Sthulabhadra is the ever-fresh subject matter of a number of poetic compositions both in Pali and Sanskrit by Jain scholar-monks, full of discrimination and renunciation; it is highly instructive and elevating.
It is said in praise of Sthulabhadra:
The affectionate courtesan was obedient; the food consisted of six courses of tasty dishes; the dwelling place was beautiful, the body was handsome and young; the time was the rainy season. I pay homage to Sthulabhadra Muni, expert in instructing young ladies, who, in spite of all these, conquered with ease Kama, the god of love.2
2.
àven znaci azı acgm qfàfugeâufari शुभ्रं धाम मनोहरवपुरहो नव्यो वयः संगमः ।
कालोऽयं जलदाविलस्तदपि यः कामं जिगायादरात्
तं वन्दे युवतीप्रवोधकुशलं श्रीस्थूलभद्रं मुनिम् ॥
Quoted by Muni Ratnaprabha Vijaya, in Sramana Bhagavan Mahavir (Sri Siddhanta Society, Ahmedabad, 1948), vol. 5, part 1, p. 227.