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The Unknown Pilgrims
other sadhvis were already asleep, she stayed seated, absorbed deeply in a penitence of such intensity and sincerity that all her karmas that till then were beclouding right knowledge were instantly destroyed and she at once attained the state of perfect knowledge. A short while after this she perceived, due to this knowledge, for the room was dark, a black snake approaching the hand of Candana; she at once brushed it aside, but in so doing touched lightly Candanā's hand, whereupon she awoke. When Mṛgavati explained to her what had happened, Candanā was astonished: how had she been able to see the snake in the darkness? Mrgavati replied that now, thanks to her, she had reached full and comprehensive knowledge. Candană, in her turn, recognised her error, and, repenting with deep sincerity herself attained perfect knowledge.61
126
It is said that numerous sädhvis, guided by Candană, went into the villages and taught to all the way of Liberation. Their influence was so beneficial that, on hearing them, certain ones took vows and became śrāvakas, while others asked to receive dikṣā. Out of thirtysix thousand sådhvis, one thousand four hundred attained perfect knowledge and Liberation.62This proves that very fervent sadhvis were to be found in the entourage of Mahavira and that, if the attainment of perfect knowledge was restricted to a small number, it was by no means the question of sex that was involved but of personal and authentic spiritual worth.
Other queens too embraced the path of asceticism and among them mention may be made of the three sisters of Mṛgāvati: Śivā, Prabhavati, Padmavati. Each of these, after differing personal histories, received dikṣā with the permission of her husband, while he
61 Apud JSB Sam V, pp. 303-312 (Avaśyaka niryukti Haribhadra 1048; Daśavaikālika-niryukti Haribhadra I, 76); cf. also PPN, pp. 601-602; TrisalPC X, 4, 471-515; 8, 157-234.
62
Apud JSBSam V, pp. 246-248.
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