Studies in the Bhagavati Sutra

Author(s): J C Sikdar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

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Sec. V]
STUDIES IN THE BHAGAWATI SUTRA
Mahāvīra on the doctrine of Karma, binding of Karma and attainment of liberation of the being which was under the influence of the five senses. She was pleased and satisfied with the holy teachings of explanation of the great Master and eventually she got herself initiated by him to Nirgrantha religion and was admitted to the ascetic order.1
Similarly the BhS provides the information that the married woman, like Devānanda', also joined the Nirgrantha order as nun, together with her husband, Rşabhadatta, after getting initiated by Lord Mahāvīra and by Arya Candana," the nun respectively to Nirgrantha religion. She also attained Sramanahood and liberation by studying the prescribed religious texts, practising various acts of austerities and meditation.
Here is found an instance of an exhalted position of the woman held by the nun, Arya Candana as religious teacher who was well-versed in all the Angas and the Upāngas.1
It is said in the Arasyaka Cun that she was formerly a slave girl of a king, but she was released on the interven. tion of Lord Mahāvīra and subsequently was initiated and admitted by him to the Nirgrantha order. Under the guidance and holy teachings of the Master she rose to such a stature of highest honour and glory as nun and religious teacher in the
1 BhS, 12, 2, 441-43.
2.4 Ib, 9, 33-380, 81, 82, Avasyaka Curni-p. 318; see also Ava. Niryukti-520 f. Ava. Tika-p. 294 f.; for other version see MahapuraṇaII. LL. 343-347, p. 466. (It is stated here that Candana was the daughter of king Ceṭaka. Once while playing in the forest, she was captured by a lascivious Vidyadhara, but was left by him in the forest out of fear from his own wife. There some forester (Vanacarapatih), finding her in such a state offered her to a merchant named Vrṣabhadatta with the intention of getting money, Candana was tortured by Subhadra, the wife of that merchant in various ways lest her husband fell in love with her. She was given bad food and was chained. One day some time Lord Mahavira went to the city of Kausambi for begging alms. Having seen him coming she tried to approach him from her chained condition and to honour and worship him. Immediately all fetters got broken automatically and her desire was fulfilled. Later on she reunited with her relatives and friends.