Aho Ashcharyam

This Jain text, titled "Aho Ashcharyam" by Ratnasundarsuri, explores themes of truthfulness, ego, societal values, and the consequences of desire and pride through an allegorical narrative.

The book begins by highlighting the human tendency to hide their faults, contrasting it with the willingness to confess physical ailments or ask for directions. It emphasizes that speaking the truth requires great courage, as it challenges ego, greed, and the fear of loss or death. Those who embrace truthfulness, even without societal recognition, are rewarded with immense merit and virtues, finding peace in happiness, humility in success, contentment amidst wealth, and detachment amidst pleasures.

The narrative then introduces King Mantung of Malwa, who, despite his perceived good governance, desires to know the true satisfaction of his subjects. He believes that one's true character is revealed when no one is watching, and one's true inclination is revealed by their thoughts. To ascertain this, Mantung embarks on a secret journey through his kingdom at night, disguised and alone. He overhears the citizens praising his reign, his strength, his righteousness, and the absence of crime and immorality. This elates him.

He then encounters five young women. Four of them are playfully engaging, while one, Manvati, is reserved. The conversation reveals their upcoming marriages and the societal expectations of women in that era – to be submissive, modest, and dutiful towards their husbands and in-laws. The text critiques the changing definition of values in modern times, where modesty is labeled as backwardness and obedience as slavery.

Manvati, spurred by pride, argues that a life solely dependent on a husband is meaningless. She asserts that women hold a hidden power over men, influencing even the most powerful. Her friends gently advise her to speak with respect and sweetness. They explain that a devoted wife finds security in her husband's presence, just as a river merges into the ocean, incense burns in fire, or a jewel adorns a foot.

Manvati, angered by her friends' words, boasts about women's ability to control kings and gods, and their power as weapons and machines to subdue men. She claims men are like powerless statues before women's charm. Her friends are stunned by her boldness.

Mantung, who has been secretly observing, is particularly struck by Manvati's arrogance. He resolves to humble her pride. He notes that while beauty is admirable, it's even more so when supported by virtues. He finds a flaw in everything, comparing the ocean's saltiness, the moon's blemish, the sun's harsh heat, and the flower's thorns to Manvati's pride, haughtiness, and shamelessness. He wonders about her father and resolves to marry her to witness her fulfilling her vows to her friends.

The text then uses an analogy of animals receiving specific abilities from God to protect themselves, questioning why humans, particularly men, are vulnerable to women's allure. It suggests that while men's physical strength and intellect are evident, women's emotional and psychological influence is profound. The narrative emphasizes the importance of controlling one's senses and avoiding situations that can lead to temptation, as illustrated by the story of the ascetics who succumbed to the allure of a woman.

The story shifts to King Mantung's pursuit of Manvati. He learns her address and, driven by his ego to humble her, plans to marry her. He dispatches his minister, Subuddhi, to negotiate the marriage. Subuddhi, eager to please the king, readily agrees to secure Manvati's hand, emphasizing the king's power and the potential consequences of refusal.

Manvati's father, Dhanadatta, a merchant, is initially apprehensive due to the vast difference in status but is ultimately pressured by the king's power and Manvati's veiled threat of self-harm if the marriage doesn't happen. Subuddhi, impressed by Manvati's beauty and the righteousness of Jain principles explained by Dhanadatta, conveys the proposal to Mantung.

Mantung, however, is already consumed by his desire for Manvati and his plan to break her pride. He is also captivated by a vidyadhari woman he encounters, further complicating his desires. He devises a plan involving a pillar-supported palace, where Manvati is confined, testing her ability to survive and fulfill her vows.

The narrative delves into Manvati's resilience and resourcefulness. She maintains her spiritual practices, cleverly uses a tunnel to visit her father and receive his support, and adopts the disguise of a yogini to gain influence in the city. Her wisdom and captivating performances impress everyone, including King Mantung, who is drawn to her, unaware of her true identity.

Manvati uses her influence to manipulate Mantung, playing on his desires and ego. She negotiates her stay in the palace and her presence during his travels, all while keeping her identity a secret. Mantung, torn between his fascination with the yogini, his planned marriage to Ratnavati of Mangipattan, and his lingering obsession with Manvati, embarks on a journey to Mangipattan, with the yogini accompanying him, albeit with a hidden agenda.

The story highlights Mantung's insatiable desires, his inability to find contentment, and the destructive nature of ego and lust. He is constantly swayed by fleeting attractions, unable to commit to one desire or find true happiness.

Meanwhile, Manvati, in her yogini guise, plays a strategic game with Mantung, testing his commitment and ultimately orchestrating events to expose his flawed character. She manipulates him into marrying Ratnavati and then further deceives him with a fabricated ritual involving her "guru's wife" (which is herself in disguise) and a symbolic consumption of "her" leftovers. This leads Mantung to believe he has been blessed with a son, only to be later confronted by the truth of Manvati's intelligence and cunning.

The narrative concludes with Manvati revealing her true identity and the elaborate deception she orchestrated to humble Mantung. Mantung, realizing he has been outmaneuvered, is humbled. Both he and Manvati, having experienced the emptiness of worldly pursuits and the consequences of their desires and pride, ultimately renounce the world and embrace the path of asceticism, achieving spiritual liberation. The story emphasizes the cyclical nature of karma and the importance of righteous conduct, wisdom, and detachment in achieving true peace and liberation.