WOMEN IN JAINISM: ASCETICS AND PATRONS IN EPIGRAPHIC AND VISUAL TRADITIONS

Abstract

This study examines the representation of women as ascetics and donors in Jain tradition, drawing upon inscriptions and their visual articulation in sculpture. It seeks to illuminate the paradox of women’s marginal textual voice yet prominent numerical and social presence within the Jain community. Although canonical texts, largely authored by monks, often portray the female body as inferior and a hindrance to spiritual progress, historical evidence consistently reveals that the number of sādhvīs/āryikās has surpassed that of monks. This distinctive feature of Jainism underscores the tension between textual silence and lived reality.

By analyzing inscriptions, the study highlights women’s active participation in religious life—not only as ascetics but also as independent donors whose contributions shaped the material and spiritual landscape of Jain communities. Their presence in records of donations and household systems demonstrates a recognized social agency, even within the patriarchal framework of Brahmanical norms. Sculptural depictions further reinforce their visibility, offering a counterpoint to textual marginalization.

Through this dual lens of inscriptional and visual sources, the article argues that Jainism’s approach to women was comparatively more inclusive than that of other contemporary traditions, while still constrained by prevailing social structures. The research thus contributes to understanding how women negotiated space within ascetic and donor roles, revealing the complex interplay between ideology, practice, and representation in Jain tradition.