Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Samyak Darshan: Right Perspective 1
1 Marudeva: An Ascetic's Mother 3
2 Ride to Purimtal: A Dream Come True 10
3 Rishabha: What a Wilting Flower Said 18
4 The Sons: Each to His Unbounded Empire 26
5 Bharat and Bahubali: A Measure of Might 33
6 Mallinatha: A Woman Tirthankara? 39
7 Rajimati: Desire Restrained 46
8 Parsvanatha: Jaina History Begins 52
9 Around Mahavira: Many Voices, Many Beliefs 58
10 Vardhamana: The Search 67
11 When Vardhamana Became Mahavira: Awakening Compassion 75
12 Chandanbala: Tonsured Head, Tear-filled Eye and a Basket Full of Pulses 83
13 Jina: The Conquest 90
14 Goyama: A Little Bit of Attachment 95
15 Meghakumar: A Little Bit of Patience 103
16 Three Musts to Get on to Mokshamarg 108
Samyak Gyan: Right Knowledge 115
17 Anekanta 117
18 Multiplication and Division of the Fold 123
19 Text and Subtext 132
20 The Body and the Soul 144
21 Pravritti and Nivrittt, Mahavratas and Anuvratas 151
22 To Be and Not to Be 161
23 Prayer and Practice 168
Samyak Caritra: Right Conduct 177
24 The First Media Moguls 179
25 The First Passion: Storytelling 186
26 The Story of Sahasramalla 194
27 The Story of Sahasramalla (continued) 200
28 The First Set of Verses 205
29 The First Dance Panel and the First Cast Metal Icons 215
30 Narratives in Line and Colour 222
31 The First Portrait 227
32 A Beginning and an End? 234
Notes 240
Select Bibliography 255
Index 259
Acknowledgements 277