Walk With Me

Author(s): Chandanaji Acharya, Vastupal Parikh
Publisher: Veerayatan

Page 31

Ch. 2: The Sraman Sangh - Brotherhood
meet your household responsibilities and still walk this path, but you must first understand this path, and be ready to change your lifestyle and your outlook." Many were ready for such a change. Mahavir signaled me to come near him, saying, “Let us welcome all who want to follow the Arhat path. Let us create two groups, those who wish to be ordained (monks), and the laypersons that are not yet ready to live like monks.
I asked, "Gurudev, many non-Brahmins are also in the line waiting to be ordained by you. How can they be admitted in our sangh?"
Mahavir gently smiled and said, "Goyama, the differences in their karmic bondage cause souls take different births. However, they all are potentially capable of attaining liberation, and are therefore to be equally respected and revered.” Obviously, I was still not totally free from my ego. Mahavir's broad vision opened my eyes. Mahavir's decision to split the sangh into two groups was quick; probably because he saw the need to set up some structure for our rapidly expanding sangh.
A few days later, we were in Kaushambi, the capital of the Vatsa at the invitation of Queen Mrigavati. On the very first day Mrigavati attended the sermon with her niece - Maharaja Dadhivahan's daughter, Chandana. Chandana was dressed surprisingly in a simple white sari. She was completely absorbed in Bhagwan Mahavir's lecture and rushed forward as soon as the lecture was over. And the unbelievable happened. Chandana, the royal princess, came forward and asked Mahavir to ordain her into our religious order. I could not believe my eyes when Mahavir promptly ordained her - a woman - as a sadhvi (nun) in our sangh.
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Jain Education Intemational