Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s12: Female Ascetics

Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s12

Language: English

Female Ascetics

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The nuns played an important part in the fourfold Saṅgha of Mahāvīra as has been mentioned already. Like monks nuns too lived upon the charity of the people though their life was much harder and they were placed under a more rigorous discipline than monks. It is stated that they should not stay alone without the protection of monks and should avoid the company of men of doubtful character. In fact, those were very hard days for nuns. When they went out to beg they were subjected to various annoyances by young men, who followed them to their residence (vasati). The nuns were mocked at during their menstrual period when the Kāpālika ascetics by means of spells tried to fascinate them. It is for this reason that the Jain nuns were asked to cover themselves thoroughly like a plantain tree. But still the young men used to give them much trouble. Under such circumstances the nuns were asked to keep the doors of their residence closed. If there were no doors, the monks used to guard them or they themselves sat together with sticks in their hands to stop the tyrants. If still a young nun was tormented by mischievous persons, it was the duty of some young monk who was well-versed in the art of fighting, to meet the tormentor in the disguise of a nun and punish him.⁹⁶ We are told of Sukumāliyā who joined the ascetic order together with her two brothers. Sukumāliyā was a beautiful nun and so when she went out to beg she was followed by young men who even entered her residence by force. The chief nun informed the ācārya who asked her brothers to protect their sister. Now Sukumālīyā began to live with her brothers who used to go out begging by turns. As both were adepts in the art of fighting, if anybody dared to enter their residence, they thrashed him and brought him to his senses.⁹⁷

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⁹⁶ Bṛh. Bhā. 3.4106 ff; 1.2443 f., 2085.

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⁹⁷ ibid 4 5254-5259, cf Kunāla Jātaka (No 536), V, pp 424-8.

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We have instances when the nuns were lured by the householders.⁹⁸ Sometimes they were raped by force. It is laid down that under such circumstances a nun should immediately inform her teacher. It is stated that, even if a nun gets pregnant, she should not be turned out from the Saṅgha, but the offender must be punished. It is said that if nobody knew of her pregnancy, the nun should be kept in the house of a śrāvaka. If it is revealed, the nun should be kept in the upāśraya and must not be sent out for alms. If some people made remarks, they must be told that she could not be abandoned in such conditions. Anyhow the nun should be defended by citing examples of Kesi and Saṭyaki who were born of nuns without being guilty, and should be looked after properly.⁹⁹

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⁹⁸ Bṛh Bhā 1 2670-2; cf. Therīgāthā (139-144) where the nun Khemā is invited to enjoy sensual pleasures.

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⁹⁹ Bṛh Bhā 3 4128-39 Here the five ways are mentioned which could cause pregnancy without sexual intercourse (a) if a woman sat without cover at the place where a man had discharged semen which could cause pregnancy, (b) if a person desirous of a son introduces semen in her vagina, (c) if the same thing is done by her father-in-law, (d) if the semen was sticking to some cloth that was used to cover vagina to stop the flow of menstrual blood and (e) drinking of water mixed with semen could cause pregnancy (ibid 4139) Cf the Mātanga Jātaka (IV No 497) p, 378 where the Mātanga touched his thumb to the navel of his wife and she conceived, also Vinaya II, p. 205 f, also Dhammapada A III, p 145 In Buddhist literature we hear of the nun Uppalavannā, who was raped by a young brahmacārin in the grove of Andhavana in Sāvatthi, and it is said that from that time nuns did not live in Andhavana (ibid, II, pp 49, 52)

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There are examples when the nuns were abducted. We have seen how king Gaddabhilla abducted the sister-nun of Kālakācārya, which resulted in his destruction. We are told of a Buddhist merchant of Bharuyaccha who took the garb of a Jain layman and invited the nuns under the pretext of offering them alms. The merchant asked the nuns to enter his ship to pay a visit to the Jain temples and as soon as they stepped in he set the ship in motion.¹⁰⁰ There was also trouble from the robbers. We are told that once some robbers joined with the Bodhiya Mlecchas and carried off the nuns.¹⁰¹ Sometimes the robbers carried away the clothes of the nuns. It is laid down that under such circumstances the nun should cover their private parts with skin, vegetable leaves, darbha grass, or with their own hands.¹⁰²

Linked texts (3)

Jātaka — Pāli
Cullavagga — Pāli
Therīgāthā — Pāli