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THE JAIN HEROINES.
Women also filled an important place in the blessed order of Tirthankara Mahavira. They have been defenders of the faith and promoters of the culture of Ahimsa. Chandana was the daughter of King Chetaka of Vaishali and she was appointed as the head of the order of nuns by Tirthankara Mahavira. Her example has ever inspired the fair sex of the Jain pursuasion to sacrifice their lives for the noble cause of Dharma. To them love of country and Dharma was of primary importance. The thing of interest is that these women-champions of Jainism hailed from all sections of the people, 'notably from royalty, the nobility, and the houses of the great ministers and generals. They are shining luminaries in the realm of religion and state alike.
Mention must also be made of queen Chelana of Magadha (Bihar) whose religious zeal and tact led to the conversion of her husband Shrenik Bimbsara, to Jainism. She was a great philosopher and was full of piety and religious fervour.
During the reign of Rashtrakuta monarch Krishna III. (911 A. D.) nal-gavunda (Headman) Sattarasa Nagarjuna fell in battle. The king bestowed the office of nal-gavunda on his widow Jakkiyabbe, who was a devout Jain, and "skilled in ability for good government, faithful to the Jinendra's shasana
