Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c7.s6.t1.7

c7.s6.t1.7

Sometimes even the Jain monks had to appear in the Law-Court. We are told that when Vaira was six months old he was taken by the Jain monks for ordination. In course of time, the mother of the child filed a suit in the court against the monks. The king sat to the east, the Jain Sangha to the south and the relatives and friends of Vaira on the left of the king. The whole town was on the side of the plaintiff. The mother tempted the child by showing various toys but the child would not come to her. The father of Vaira, who had taken to ascetic life, and who belonged to the opposite party, called out his child and asked him to take up the rajoharaṇa and the child obeyed. The mother lost the case and the child was given to the monks.11 At times the Jain monks visited the king and complained against the prostitutes, who trespassed on their residence with the intention of distracting and seducing them.12