________________
261
mark of her tilaka on the monk's forehead in the process. The mother-in-law and sister-in-law of Subhadrā pounced upon this substantial piece of evidence and brought Subhadra's husband to see it for himself. He now appeared convinced but chose not to convey displeasure to his wife. Subhadrā did not mind this compromising situation so far as she herself was concerned but that the Jain faith should be suspected in this manner was very painful to her. At night, she observed kāyotsarga, alienated herself from her body. A spirit appeared before her and asked what she wanted. She said she would like to clear herself of the ignominy. The spirit said that he would close all the four gates of the city and declare that only a pativrată, a faithful wife, could open them. Subhadrā alone would be in a position to open any one of the gates after convincing the members of her family of her chastity. The spirit said they would be convinced when Subhadrā carried water in a sieve without a drop leaking out.
The next morning saw all the gates of the city firmly shut. People were terrified. A divine announced, "Citizens, do not make futile attempts to open the gates. They will open only when a chaste woman sprinkles them with water, the water that she will carry in a sieve from where not a drop will leak." Several young women from the city, daughters and daughters-in-law of leading families tried and tried in vain. Subhadrā asked her family whether she could try but they would not allow her. She however convinced them of her purity by carrying some water in a sieve without a drop leaking out, Then the family allowed her. She proceeded to the city gates while the people cheered her. With prayers to Arhats, she sprinkled the water from her sieve on the doors which opened with a creeking sound. Then she went to the other two gates and opened them in a similar manner but when she came to the northern gate she said, "Only a woman who is as chaste as I am shall open this gate."
That gate remains shut even to this date.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
