(17) Doctrine of Digambara and Taamasee Shraddhaa

(दिगम्बर-सिद्धान्त/Doctrine of the naked cult, enters as described)

DIGAMBARA (Naked/one who has directions as his covering) –

“Om! Salutations to all Arhats! The Aatman shines like a light in the city with nine gates!! This is the Supreme truth stated by the best Guru of the Jain cult and will bestow the bliss of liberation.

{The followers of Digambara tradition worship idols of Theerthankars. They do not wear any clothes. They carry in their hands a special kind of pot and a broom made of fallen peacock's feathers. They eat food once a day with both their palms folded in a shape of a bowl and never use plates.

Though dressed accordingly, this ascetic is not true to his religion. He does not even know what was taught by Arhats. He is trying to get food, shelter and service of women in the householder devotees of Arhat. He is cheating them in the name of Arhat. As there is no Ishvara concept in this religion, it is not favored by the theists. Shraddhaa is seen here but she is not the real Shraddhaa, the mother of Shaanti.

Faith in this atheistic religion bestows no peace or liberation according to the author.}

(moves here and there)

Hey Hey Hey Shraavakas (housholders)!

Listen!

मलमयपुद्गलपिण्डे सकलजलैरपि कीदृशी शुद्धिः

आत्मा विमलस्वभावः ऋषिपरिचरणैर्ज्ञातव्यः [5]

How can this body which is a collection of atoms and filled with various types of dirt

 be ever cleansed even if you bathe it in all the waters of the earth?

Aatman is pure in nature.

This truth will be known by serving the Sages!

What…? Are you asking, how to serve the Sages? Then listen!

दूरे चरणप्रणामः कृतसत्कारं च भोजनं मिष्टं

ईर्ष्यामलं न  कार्यं ऋषीणां दारान् रममाणानां [6]

Salutation from a distance;

offering of tasty food with all reverence and politeness;

and no malignant thought about how these sages get entertained by others’ wives,

should ever cross the mind.

(looks towards the back-screen)

Shraddhaa! Come here!”

(Both Shaanti and Karunaa see this and are frightened)

(Taamasic Shraddhaa enters dressed as per the codes ordained by Jains)

SHRADDHAA-

“What is the royal command?”

(Shaanti faints and falls down)

DIGAMBARA-

“See that these householder-devotees never lose faith in me even for a second.”

SHRADDHAA-

 “As the King commands!”

(Shraddhaa leaves)

KARUNAA-

“My dear friend! Hold yourself! Just by the mention of the same name, you need not feel flustered. I have heard from ‘Himsaa’ that even heretics have a girl named Shraddhaa with them and she is the daughter of Tamas (Ignorance). This one must be Taamasee Shraddhaa!”

[Himsaa or violence is the opposite of Karunaa, Compassion.}

SHAANTI-

(feeling relieved)

“Friend! Yes, it must be so!

As it is-

दुराचारा सदाचारां दुर्दर्शा प्रियदर्शनां

अम्बामनुसरत्येषा दुराशा न कथञ्चन [7]

This one behaves badly; my mother is of good behavior.

This one is terrifying to look at; my mother is pleasant for the eyes.

This wicked one does not in the least look like my mother.

Let it be so. Let us continue our search in the Buddhist monasteries.”