Mainasundari

Younger daughter of Prajapal was ‘Mainasundari’. She was a pure soul, beautiful like a 

fairy and well versed in Jain religion. She used to perform rituals to her deity using eight different ingredients namely- Jal (water),Chandan (Sandalwood paste), Akshat(Rice), Pushp (flowers shed by trees or plants on their own and not plucked), Naivaidhya (eatables and sweets like Puranpoli, Ghevar, Laddo etc.), Deep (Diyas), Dhoop (crushed sandalwood),and Phal( fruits: both green and dry).

A mixture of all these 7 ingredients becomes Arghy.

She got training and education from a Jain Muni Yamdhar who gave her knowledge of peaceful and joyous ‘Jinvani’. Brief of the Jain ideology which was taught to Mainasundari by Muni Yamdhar has been written here:

    1.  Violence, Untruthfulness, Stealing, Characterlessness and excess procurement of material things are five sins.

   2. Abandoning the above five sins is known as observing the five small fasts by the noble souls. These five fasts are known as ‘Anuvrat’.

       a) Ahimsanuvrat → to give up killings(from microbes to animals and humans) and saving         lives.

       b)  Satyanuvrat → to forbid speaking untruth words to deceit or inflict atrocity on others.

       c) Achauryanuvrat → to give up stealing things or using anything without asking for it from       its  owner.

       d) Brahmachryanuvrat → being loyal to one’s spouse.

       e) Parigrah pariman anuvrat → setting limits on materialism i.e. procuring property, wealth,        clothes, gold and other gems, eatables, servants etc in a certain limit and then adhering        to those set limits.

Observing these five small fasts are mandatory to fulfill responsibilities for creation of a happy family (Grihastha dharma).

Moreover, dining in the night shall be relinquished and Ashtamoolguna i.e. eight main characterstics of being a Jain follower are to be acquired. These Ashtamoolguna are → to forgo intake of:

              i.        Bada (Banyan fruit)

            ii.        Peepal

           iii.        Paakar (Fig)

           iv.        Kathumar (Kathal)

            v.        Umar (Gular)

           vi.        Alcohol

          vii.        Meat

        viii.        Honey

........... to be continued