Jain Legend Vol 2

Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

Page 13

over a year is not sizeable, it would have been mentioned as Samvatsara tapa, not taking into account those additional days. The duration of first Tapa of Lord is little over a year. Such a clarification is evident in "Harivam a Pura”.
From these references, it is apparent that Lord V abha Deva had performed his first tapa for more than a year, however, practically, the additional days are considered secondary and referred to as Var a tapa only.
Doubt 2:
The second doubt relates to the wedding and renunciation of Br hm and Sundar. Based on traditional values, it has been considered that both these sisters remained as celibate throughout their lives. According to the scriptures in Digambara tradition, it has been clearly mentioned that both of them were unmarried. However, books of
vet mbara tradition had given three different versions: 1. In Kalpas tra, there is mention of not Sundari alone, but of both Br hm and Sundar as the Chief female-monks (S dhy s) of three lakh female-monks ( ramas). Pramukh Subhadr of r vik (female-votary) group also is mentioned here. From these references from Kalpas tra, it is evident that both the sisters have taken the dk together. 2. According to va yaka Malaya and “Tri a i- al k -puru a-caritra", et al. it is evident that Br hm renounced at the time when Lord V abha Deva had established the religious order (Dharma T rtha). Sundar also wanted to renounce at the same time, but Bharata had stopped her, saying that, once he becomes the Cakravart Emperor, he would make her, his wife (Str - Ratna). Bharata became the r vaka and Sundar r vik . 3. The third version is that prior to his taking initiation of monkhood ( rama a Dharma Dk ), Lord V abha Deva had performed the nuptials of Bharata's sister Br hm with B hubali and B hubal 's sister Sundari with Bharata. On attaining Kaivalya (omniscience), when Lord
din tha established the Dharma Trtha, with the permission of Bahubal, Br hm renounced and joined
13