________________
The Unknown Pilgrims
were set, for they were often driven by necessity, in the case, for example, of the marriage of young girls. So, when we consider this attitude as a whole, we see that it was exceptionally liberal in the time of Mahavira and the first ācāryas, but that it later let itself be deleteriously affected by surrounding attitudes. Nevertheless, the samgha has continued throughout and up to this present to include sādhvis in their ranks in the same way as munis. These sadhvis for a number of centuries were the one and only feminine ascetic group in the country.55 Thus young widows of the samgha had at least this possibility of practising asceticism, leading a worthwhile life, studying and making spiritual progress.
90
In this part the voice of the sadhvis of the past and of the present is one and the same. Taking into consideration the general social atmosphere of the day, we see that the role of the sadhvis of the past, though unobtrusive, was not ineffectual. The documents of the varied periods and regions show us that:
Their faith in the dharma and their fidelity to it encouraged the śrävikäs in the fervour of their worship.
-
Through their witness and their example certain sädhvis have inspired and continue to inspire profound veneration in the hearts of both śrāvakas and śrāvikās, a veneration which is outwardly expressed by the erection of statues, by inscriptions and dedications.
They took part in the activities of the samgha, particularly in pilgrimages.
-
55 The Buddhist bhikṣunis, of which there was for several centuries a very flourishing community, went into decline from the IVth - Vth centuries A.D. In Brahmanism, women ascetics have been until recently isolated cases. One of the first to found an organised group, at the turn of the century, was Yogini Svayam Prakāśa in Kēraļa. Moreover, it is known that in the South the great Vaisnavite Acarya Ramanuja accepted as disciples ascetics, including women of all castes (XIth c.). Subsequently, there were, albeit in restricted numbers, women ascetics among the Vaisnavites of other regions, particularly in Bangāla.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
