Jaina System of Education

Author(s): Debendra Chandra Das Gupta
Publisher: Bharti Mahavidyalaya

Page 60

46
JAINA SYSTEM OF EDUCATION
and cultural activities of the military city encompassed with mountains This famous capital of Magadha was an important centre of Jaina edu cation being at once provided with a monastery and a nunnery the hatter being associated with the name of Nanda the consort of Bimbi sam who embraced Jainisin there and practised severe asceticism for a period of twenty years ller was not a conversion due to a mer emotional unpulse she was thoroughly well versed in the Scripture Here again a notable lady Bhadda by name the daughter of the kings treasury entered the ascetic order after putting an end to the life of her criminal husband in the Robbers cliff at Rajagṛha There is a romantic flavour mixed up with the devotion in the whole story which may be described as follows She learnt the sacred text of the Niganthas in the local nunnery and left Rajagrh for further knowledge receiv ing instruction from different wisemen at different places When she found herself competent she challenged the captain of the Norm pre sumably Sariputra and at Sravasti she entered into a debate with the Sakyan reclus and assailed him with questions after questions all of which he answered with satisfaction Then Sariputra took his turn and when Bhadda failed to answer his question she embracerl Buddhism " Here we find a wonderful specimen of female scholarship in ancient India comparable to that of Gargi who challenged the sages in the field of scholarship The conversion of the girl Bhuya is equally interesting throwing a flood of light on the excellence of female edu cation in ancient India Then the girl Bhuya surrounded by her retinue went right through the midst of the city of Rajagṛha to the temple Gunil and having gone there she got out of the chario meant for religious journeys and surrounded by the circle of the maid servants she went to her Lord Parswa who is greatly renowned in the world and having circumambulated him three times waited upon him 'The Lord Parswa who is greatly renowned in the world delivered to that girl Bhuya and to the great assembly the religious instruction Having heard and bestowed to it she was greatly delighted and saluted and bowed down to him and having done so she spoke thus to him
40. The Antagadadasão And Anuttarovavăiyă Dasão P 97 Psalams of The Early Sisters pp 64-66,
41
to